(Reuters) – According to opener Zak Crawley, England must maintain a positive mindset and make adjustments to their aggressive style of play in test cricket following their recent 4-1 series defeat in India. Despite losing the first test, India managed to clinch the series victory, casting doubt on England’s much-talked-about “Bazball” approach.
The team’s strategy, endorsed by skipper Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon ‘Baz’ McCullum, came under scrutiny from former England captains like Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton, who suggested a more balanced approach moving forward. Crawley, who scored 407 runs in the series, emphasized the need for refinement in their playing style.
He explained, “It just needs a bit of refinement. We always talk about absorbing pressure and putting pressure back on. The last couple of years we’ve done the putting back on pretty well, and we’ve spoken about maybe picking those moments to absorb at the right times as well. We can certainly refine that.”
Crawley also emphasized that the team aims to maintain their positive approach while being more strategic in choosing when to absorb pressure and when to go on the offensive. He stressed the importance of not letting the tough result in India affect their overall performance, highlighting the need to build on the successes of the past couple of years.
England is set to resume test action in July against the West Indies following the conclusion of this year’s Twenty20 World Cup. The team will have some time to regroup and make the necessary adjustments before their next test series.
Overall, Crawley’s comments suggest that England is looking to strike a balance between their aggressive style of play and the ability to absorb pressure when needed. The team acknowledges the need for refinement in their approach and remains committed to playing positively while making strategic decisions on the field.
With key figures within the team already calling for adjustments, it is clear that England is taking the necessary steps to address their shortcomings and improve their performance in future test matches.
As they prepare to face the West Indies in July, England will have the opportunity to put their revised strategies to the test and showcase their ability to adapt and thrive in challenging situations.
It will be interesting to see how the team implements these changes and whether they can bounce back from their series defeat in India with a stronger and more well-rounded performance in the upcoming test series against the West Indies.
For now, England’s focus remains on learning from their recent experiences and fine-tuning their approach to ensure they are better equipped to succeed in the competitive world of test cricket.
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Christopher Cushing)
