Four Years On: Revisiting the Bazball Era
Exactly four years after England’s inaugural Test under Brendon McCullum commenced against New Zealand at Lord’s, the two teams reconvene in St John’s Wood, preparing for a rematch that once again features discussions about England’s evolving strategy.
In the 2022 series, New Zealand batted first in all three matches, with England successfully chasing challenging targets each time. The aggressive style initiated by McCullum that summer was epitomised by Jonny Bairstow’s remarkable performance. Historically, prior to 2022, only three English players had scored over 300 runs in a series at a strike rate exceeding 85, excluding the early years of Test cricket when such data was not recorded. Since then, ten additional players have joined this elite group within four years, led by Bairstow’s 394 runs at a strike rate of 120.12 against New Zealand in 2022. This strike rate has been surpassed only once, and then only marginally, by Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi, who scored 330 runs at 121.32 against India in 2006, largely aided by batting-friendly pitches in two high-scoring draws.
“It was a really memorable series,” McCullum said on Tuesday. “We had a couple of big run chases and we took them on and we were prepared to fail in the pursuit of victory at that point in time. From where we were when we took over, to us trying to take on those totals and to be able to ultimately chase them down, was huge. Jonny doing what he did and the style of cricket that we played, that was what was required at that point in time.
“Now what’s required is for us to evolve slightly – still recognise the identity we want to play with, but to evolve slightly. And I think I’ve identified a lot of those areas, which we’re working on. New Zealand’s a better team than when they came here a few years ago, I think. We know they’re going to do things really well for a long period of time. Our job is to find a way to be able to compete with that style, yet also disrupt it when we’ve earned the right to be able to do so. It’s a fascinating series. Again, two different styles, but we’ll see where we land.”
England’s Strategy and New Zealand’s Perspective
Following the Ashes, England’s renewed approach means New Zealand arrives for the second consecutive visit with some uncertainty about England’s tactics. Kane Williamson, who captained New Zealand in 2022 and is among nine returning players under Tom Latham’s leadership this year, commented on the evolving nature of England’s play.
“I don’t know if they’re calling it a [new] version of their play but I think you’re always trying to assess where you’re at as a team and how you get a little bit better. No doubt that’s something they’re thinking about, as we are constantly,” Williamson said.
“You’re wanting to keep evolving as a side and getting the best out of what you have, amongst the changes that come over time. [In 2022] it was a stark difference, one of the first series where they did change considerably their play, and [there were] three incredible games of cricket and three successful ones for England. So, yeah, it’s difficult. You can’t control what other people do, but it’s about what we do and that’s where our focus will be.”
McCullum’s Vision for the Future
Last week, McCullum expressed a desire to “finish the job we started” four years ago. As he shapes the new England team at a familiar Test venue, with many familiar players and against familiar opponents—most notably to the New Zealander himself—the question remains what completion of this vision entails.
“You’re trying to build something which is long-term, sustainable and successful, right? Something that outlasts the time that you’re here in the post,” McCullum explained.
“I went down to Beckenham the other day [where the Lions were playing South Africa A in an unofficial Test]. To see some of that young talent, you know … They’re the future of English cricket. They’re going to carry this team forward for 15, 16 years.
“Our job is to embed an identity, so when they get the opportunity to come in they’re able to allow that talent to flourish on this stage. That’s what you’re trying to build. You’re trying build a team which ultimately is successful, wins the big series, does it with an identity and a style of play, but is also the smartest team in the world when it comes to tactics and implementing those.”
While the cricket McCullum encourages now may be somewhat less audacious than four years ago, his ambitions remain as bold as ever.
