Team England is taking on South Africa in a three-match Test series starting on August 17 (Wednesday) at Lord&#8217;s Cricket Ground, London. The Three Lions after beating New Zealand and India in the Test matches will want to continue their good form and come on top against the Proteas side as well.

Under the leadership of skipper Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, Team England has played an aggressive brand of cricket in the longest format of the game which has resulted in the origin of a new term &#8216;Bazball&#8217;. England&#8217;s new approach (Bazball) has been a talking point among several experts and former cricketers recently. However, there are a few batters who played aggressively in Test cricket before &#8216;Bazball&#8217; was even a thing.

Let us take a look look at five such batters:

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-413199" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Adam-Gilchrist-Test.jpg" alt="Adam Gilchrist Test" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-413199" class="wp-caption-text">Adam Gilchrist Test. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Former <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mel-jones-to-step-down-from-cricket-australia-wants-to-focus-on-overseas-commitments/"><strong>Australia</strong></a> wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist was a class apart and he played several impactful knocks for his country across all three formats of the game. He went on to play 96 Test matches with a strike rate of 81.95.

The left-handed batter scored a total of 5570 runs at an average of almost 48. Batting mostly at number 7, Gilchrist smashed 17 centuries and one double-century as well. The left-handed batter made his debut in 1999 against Pakistan at the Gabba, kicking off his Test career with a quick 81 off 88 balls at a strike rate of 92.04. He played his last game in 2008.

Gilchrist was comfortable against both pace and spin and he did not need many sighters to play his natural game. Not only in Test cricket, but the left-handed batter played with an excellent strike rate of 97 in ODIs as well. He scored 9619 runs in 287 matches in the format.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-206074" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Virender-Sehwag-first-Test-hundred.jpg" alt="Virender Sehwag first Test hundred" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-206074" class="wp-caption-text">Virender Sehwag of India celebrates century on his debut. (Photo by: Touchline Photo/ALLSPORT)</figcaption>

Former India opening batter Virender Sehwag is one of the few batters who represented <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/five-indians-to-watch-out-for-in-upcoming-odi-series-against-zimbabwe/"><strong>India</strong></a> in 100+ Test matches. The right-handed batter played a total of 180 innings in the Test arena and amassed 8586 runs at an excellent average of 49.34.

Sehwag mostly opened the batting for his country throughout his Test career. The right-handed batter played at an excellent strike rate of 82.23 in Tests and scored two triple and four double hundreds in his total of 23 centuries. He even scored a hundred on debut, amassing 105 off 173 balls. Throughout his Test career, the batter dismantled several prominent bowling line-ups.

During an era where Indian cricketers were often criticized for playing safe cricket, Sehwag completely changed everyone&#8217;s mindset and gave several quick starts to his team with the bat. Under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly, the right-handed batter flourished and became one of the best openers to ever represent India.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-665237" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Rishabh-Pant.jpg" alt="Rishabh Pant" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-665237" class="wp-caption-text">Rishabh Pant. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)</figcaption>

India wicketkeeper-batter <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/we-dont-think-on-these-lines-rishabh-pant-on-competition-with-dinesh-karthik-for-india-spot/"><strong>Rishabh Pant</strong></a> has been a vital performer for his team, especially in the longest format of the game. The left-handed batter played an excellent knock against Australia at the Gabba in 2021 and helped his side clinch victory from a tricky situation.

Pant also played an excellent knock of 146 runs in just 111 balls in the rescheduled fifth Test match played against England this year. Despite Team India losing the match, the English bowlers had no answers to Pant&#8217;s aggressive batting as he went on to smash 19 fours and four sixes during that innings.

Talking about his numbers in Test cricket, the left-handed batter has played 31 matches and has amassed a total of 2123 runs at an average of 43.32. Pant also has an excellent strike rate of 72.65 with five centuries and ten fifties to his name in the longest format of the game.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-490140" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Brendon-McCullum.jpg" alt="Brendon McCullum" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-490140" class="wp-caption-text">Brendon McCullum. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)</figcaption>

Former New Zealand skipper and current head coach of England&#8217;s Test team, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/were-not-a-finished-product-brendon-mccullum-backs-english-test-team-to-carry-forward-aggressive-approach/"><strong>Brendon McCullum</strong></a> comes next on this list. The right-handed batter played an aggressive brand of cricket throughout his cricketing career. Not only with the bat, McCullum&#8217;s aggressive approach as skipper also helped New Zealand to win several memorable matches.

Talking about his numbers in the Test format, the right-handed batter played 101 matches and amassed a total of 6453 runs at an average of 38.64. McCullum played with a strike rate of 64.60 and also stroked 12 centuries and 31 half-centuries in the longest format of the game.

The Kiwi batter made his debut in March 2004 against South Africa and the batter played his last Test match against Australia in 2016. Even in his last Test match, the right-handed batter smashed 145 runs off just 79 balls and smashed the Australian bowlers all around the park at Christchurch. However, he could only manage to score 25 runs off 27 balls in his last Test innings as the visiting team won that match.

<img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-376979" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/David-Warner-8.jpg" alt="David Warner" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-376979" class="wp-caption-text">David Warner. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption>

Team Australia dynamic opener <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/reports-david-warner-to-miss-inaugural-ilt20-in-favor-of-bbl/"><strong>David Warner</strong></a> has been one of the most dangerous batters going around in the international arena for more than a decade now. The left-handed batter looks extremely comfortable against pace bowling and plays spin bowling decently as well.

Warner made his Test debut against New Zealand in Brisbane in 2011 and since then he has been an integral part of Australia&#8217;s Test team. Opening the innings for his team, Warner has proved his mettle in different playing conditions and has given many match-winning knocks.

Speaking about Warner&#8217;s numbers in the longest format of the game, the left-handed batter has played 96 matches and has already scored 7817 runs at an excellent average of 46.52. Warner plays at an explosive strike rate of 71.29 in the red-ball format with 24 centuries and 34 fifties to his name so far.

<p>Team England is taking on South Africa in a three-match Test series starting on August 17 (Wednesday) at Lord’s Cricket Ground, London. The Three Lions after beating New Zealand and India in the Test matches will want to continue their good form and come on top against the Proteas side as well.</p>
<p>Under the leadership of skipper Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, Team England has played an aggressive brand of cricket in the longest format of the game which has resulted in the origin of a new term ‘Bazball’. England’s new approach (Bazball) has been a talking point among several experts and former cricketers recently. However, there are a few batters who played aggressively in Test cricket before ‘Bazball’ was even a thing.</p>
<h3>Let us take a look look at five such batters:</h3>
<h3>&nbsp;5. Adam Gilchrist (Australia)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_413199" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-413199" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-413199" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Adam-Gilchrist-Test.jpg" alt="Adam Gilchrist Test" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-413199" class="wp-caption-text">Adam Gilchrist Test. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Former <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mel-jones-to-step-down-from-cricket-australia-wants-to-focus-on-overseas-commitments/"><strong>Australia</strong></a> wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist was a class apart and he played several impactful knocks for his country across all three formats of the game. He went on to play 96 Test matches with a strike rate of 81.95.</p>
<p>The left-handed batter scored a total of 5570 runs at an average of almost 48. Batting mostly at number 7, Gilchrist smashed 17 centuries and one double-century as well. The left-handed batter made his debut in 1999 against Pakistan at the Gabba, kicking off his Test career with a quick 81 off 88 balls at a strike rate of 92.04. He played his last game in 2008.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Gilchrist was comfortable against both pace and spin and he did not need many sighters to play his natural game. Not only in Test cricket, but the left-handed batter played with an excellent strike rate of 97 in ODIs as well. He scored 9619 runs in 287 matches in the format.</p>
<p dir="ltr"></p>
<h3 dir="ltr">4. Virender Sehwag (India)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_206074" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-206074" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-206074" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Virender-Sehwag-first-Test-hundred.jpg" alt="Virender Sehwag first Test hundred" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-206074" class="wp-caption-text">Virender Sehwag of India celebrates century on his debut. (Photo by: Touchline Photo/ALLSPORT)</figcaption></figure>
<p dir="ltr">Former India opening batter Virender Sehwag is one of the few batters who represented <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/five-indians-to-watch-out-for-in-upcoming-odi-series-against-zimbabwe/"><strong>India</strong></a> in 100+ Test matches. The right-handed batter played a total of 180 innings in the Test arena and amassed 8586 runs at an excellent average of 49.34.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Sehwag mostly opened the batting for his country throughout his Test career. The right-handed batter played at an excellent strike rate of 82.23 in Tests and scored two triple and four double hundreds in his total of 23 centuries. He even scored a hundred on debut, amassing 105 off 173 balls. Throughout his Test career, the batter dismantled several prominent bowling line-ups.</p>
<p dir="ltr">During an era where Indian cricketers were often criticized for playing safe cricket, Sehwag completely changed everyone’s mindset and gave several quick starts to his team with the bat. Under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly, the right-handed batter flourished and became one of the best openers to ever represent India.</p>
<p dir="ltr"></p>
<h3 dir="ltr">3. Rishabh Pant (India)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_665237" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-665237" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-665237" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Rishabh-Pant.jpg" alt="Rishabh Pant" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-665237" class="wp-caption-text">Rishabh Pant. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p dir="ltr">India wicketkeeper-batter <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/we-dont-think-on-these-lines-rishabh-pant-on-competition-with-dinesh-karthik-for-india-spot/"><strong>Rishabh Pant</strong></a> has been a vital performer for his team, especially in the longest format of the game. The left-handed batter played an excellent knock against Australia at the Gabba in 2021 and helped his side clinch victory from a tricky situation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Pant also played an excellent knock of 146 runs in just 111 balls in the rescheduled fifth Test match played against England this year. Despite Team India losing the match, the English bowlers had no answers to Pant’s aggressive batting as he went on to smash 19 fours and four sixes during that innings.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Talking about his numbers in Test cricket, the left-handed batter has played 31 matches and has amassed a total of 2123 runs at an average of 43.32. Pant also has an excellent strike rate of 72.65 with five centuries and ten fifties to his name in the longest format of the game.</p>
<p dir="ltr"></p>
<h3 dir="ltr">2. Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_490140" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-490140" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-490140" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Brendon-McCullum.jpg" alt="Brendon McCullum" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-490140" class="wp-caption-text">Brendon McCullum. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Former New Zealand skipper and current head coach of England’s Test team, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/were-not-a-finished-product-brendon-mccullum-backs-english-test-team-to-carry-forward-aggressive-approach/"><strong>Brendon McCullum</strong></a> comes next on this list. The right-handed batter played an aggressive brand of cricket throughout his cricketing career. Not only with the bat, McCullum’s aggressive approach as skipper also helped New Zealand to win several memorable matches.</p>
<p>Talking about his numbers in the Test format, the right-handed batter played 101 matches and amassed a total of 6453 runs at an average of 38.64. McCullum played with a strike rate of 64.60 and also stroked 12 centuries and 31 half-centuries in the longest format of the game.</p>
<p>The Kiwi batter made his debut in March 2004 against South Africa and the batter played his last Test match against Australia in 2016. Even in his last Test match, the right-handed batter smashed 145 runs off just 79 balls and smashed the Australian bowlers all around the park at Christchurch. However, he could only manage to score 25 runs off 27 balls in his last Test innings as the visiting team won that match.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>1. David Warner (Australia)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_376979" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-376979" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"><amp-img class="size-full wp-image-376979" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/David-Warner-8.jpg" alt="David Warner" width="640" height="400" layout="responsive" style="max-width: 100%; margin: 0;"></amp-img><figcaption id="caption-attachment-376979" class="wp-caption-text">David Warner. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Team Australia dynamic opener <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/reports-david-warner-to-miss-inaugural-ilt20-in-favor-of-bbl/"><strong>David Warner</strong></a> has been one of the most dangerous batters going around in the international arena for more than a decade now. The left-handed batter looks extremely comfortable against pace bowling and plays spin bowling decently as well.</p>
<p>Warner made his Test debut against New Zealand in Brisbane in 2011 and since then he has been an integral part of Australia’s Test team. Opening the innings for his team, Warner has proved his mettle in different playing conditions and has given many match-winning knocks.</p>
<p>Speaking about Warner’s numbers in the longest format of the game, the left-handed batter has played 96 matches and has already scored 7817 runs at an excellent average of 46.52. Warner plays at an explosive strike rate of 71.29 in the red-ball format with 24 centuries and 34 fifties to his name so far.</p>

<p>Team England is taking on South Africa in a three-match Test series starting on August 17 (Wednesday) at Lord&#8217;s Cricket Ground, London. The Three Lions after beating New Zealand and India in the Test matches will want to continue their good form and come on top against the Proteas side as well.</p>
<p>Under the leadership of skipper Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, Team England has played an aggressive brand of cricket in the longest format of the game which has resulted in the origin of a new term &#8216;Bazball&#8217;. England&#8217;s new approach (Bazball) has been a talking point among several experts and former cricketers recently. However, there are a few batters who played aggressively in Test cricket before &#8216;Bazball&#8217; was even a thing.</p>
<h3>Let us take a look look at five such batters:</h3>
<h3> 5. Adam Gilchrist (Australia)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_413199" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-413199" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-413199" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Adam-Gilchrist-Test.jpg" alt="Adam Gilchrist Test" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-413199" class="wp-caption-text">Adam Gilchrist Test. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Former <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/mel-jones-to-step-down-from-cricket-australia-wants-to-focus-on-overseas-commitments/"><strong>Australia</strong></a> wicketkeeper-batter Adam Gilchrist was a class apart and he played several impactful knocks for his country across all three formats of the game. He went on to play 96 Test matches with a strike rate of 81.95.</p>
<p>The left-handed batter scored a total of 5570 runs at an average of almost 48. Batting mostly at number 7, Gilchrist smashed 17 centuries and one double-century as well. The left-handed batter made his debut in 1999 against Pakistan at the Gabba, kicking off his Test career with a quick 81 off 88 balls at a strike rate of 92.04. He played his last game in 2008.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Gilchrist was comfortable against both pace and spin and he did not need many sighters to play his natural game. Not only in Test cricket, but the left-handed batter played with an excellent strike rate of 97 in ODIs as well. He scored 9619 runs in 287 matches in the format.</p>
<p dir="ltr"></p>
<h3 dir="ltr">4. Virender Sehwag (India)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_206074" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-206074" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-206074" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Virender-Sehwag-first-Test-hundred.jpg" alt="Virender Sehwag first Test hundred" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-206074" class="wp-caption-text">Virender Sehwag of India celebrates century on his debut. (Photo by: Touchline Photo/ALLSPORT)</figcaption></figure>
<p dir="ltr">Former India opening batter Virender Sehwag is one of the few batters who represented <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/five-indians-to-watch-out-for-in-upcoming-odi-series-against-zimbabwe/"><strong>India</strong></a> in 100+ Test matches. The right-handed batter played a total of 180 innings in the Test arena and amassed 8586 runs at an excellent average of 49.34.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Sehwag mostly opened the batting for his country throughout his Test career. The right-handed batter played at an excellent strike rate of 82.23 in Tests and scored two triple and four double hundreds in his total of 23 centuries. He even scored a hundred on debut, amassing 105 off 173 balls. Throughout his Test career, the batter dismantled several prominent bowling line-ups.</p>
<p dir="ltr">During an era where Indian cricketers were often criticized for playing safe cricket, Sehwag completely changed everyone&#8217;s mindset and gave several quick starts to his team with the bat. Under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly, the right-handed batter flourished and became one of the best openers to ever represent India.</p>
<p dir="ltr"></p>
<h3 dir="ltr">3. Rishabh Pant (India)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_665237" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-665237" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-665237" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Rishabh-Pant.jpg" alt="Rishabh Pant" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-665237" class="wp-caption-text">Rishabh Pant. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p dir="ltr">India wicketkeeper-batter <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/we-dont-think-on-these-lines-rishabh-pant-on-competition-with-dinesh-karthik-for-india-spot/"><strong>Rishabh Pant</strong></a> has been a vital performer for his team, especially in the longest format of the game. The left-handed batter played an excellent knock against Australia at the Gabba in 2021 and helped his side clinch victory from a tricky situation.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Pant also played an excellent knock of 146 runs in just 111 balls in the rescheduled fifth Test match played against England this year. Despite Team India losing the match, the English bowlers had no answers to Pant&#8217;s aggressive batting as he went on to smash 19 fours and four sixes during that innings.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Talking about his numbers in Test cricket, the left-handed batter has played 31 matches and has amassed a total of 2123 runs at an average of 43.32. Pant also has an excellent strike rate of 72.65 with five centuries and ten fifties to his name in the longest format of the game.</p>
<p dir="ltr"></p>
<h3 dir="ltr">2. Brendon McCullum (New Zealand)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_490140" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-490140" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-490140" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/Brendon-McCullum.jpg" alt="Brendon McCullum" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-490140" class="wp-caption-text">Brendon McCullum. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Former New Zealand skipper and current head coach of England&#8217;s Test team, <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/were-not-a-finished-product-brendon-mccullum-backs-english-test-team-to-carry-forward-aggressive-approach/"><strong>Brendon McCullum</strong></a> comes next on this list. The right-handed batter played an aggressive brand of cricket throughout his cricketing career. Not only with the bat, McCullum&#8217;s aggressive approach as skipper also helped New Zealand to win several memorable matches.</p>
<p>Talking about his numbers in the Test format, the right-handed batter played 101 matches and amassed a total of 6453 runs at an average of 38.64. McCullum played with a strike rate of 64.60 and also stroked 12 centuries and 31 half-centuries in the longest format of the game.</p>
<p>The Kiwi batter made his debut in March 2004 against South Africa and the batter played his last Test match against Australia in 2016. Even in his last Test match, the right-handed batter smashed 145 runs off just 79 balls and smashed the Australian bowlers all around the park at Christchurch. However, he could only manage to score 25 runs off 27 balls in his last Test innings as the visiting team won that match.</p>
<p></p>
<h3>1. David Warner (Australia)</h3>
<figure id="attachment_376979" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-376979" style="width: 640px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-376979" src="https://media.crictracker.com/media/attachments/David-Warner-8.jpg" alt="David Warner" width="640" height="400" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px"><figcaption id="caption-attachment-376979" class="wp-caption-text">David Warner. (Photo Source: Twitter)</figcaption></figure>
<p>Team Australia dynamic opener <a href="https://www.crictracker.com/reports-david-warner-to-miss-inaugural-ilt20-in-favor-of-bbl/"><strong>David Warner</strong></a> has been one of the most dangerous batters going around in the international arena for more than a decade now. The left-handed batter looks extremely comfortable against pace bowling and plays spin bowling decently as well.</p>
<p>Warner made his Test debut against New Zealand in Brisbane in 2011 and since then he has been an integral part of Australia&#8217;s Test team. Opening the innings for his team, Warner has proved his mettle in different playing conditions and has given many match-winning knocks.</p>
<p>Speaking about Warner&#8217;s numbers in the longest format of the game, the left-handed batter has played 96 matches and has already scored 7817 runs at an excellent average of 46.52. Warner plays at an explosive strike rate of 71.29 in the red-ball format with 24 centuries and 34 fifties to his name so far.</p>

Team England is set to face South Africa under the management of head coach Brendon McCullum.

5 batters who played aggressively in Test cricket before 'Bazball' was a thing

In this article, we will talk about five such players who have played an aggressive brand of cricket in the Test format.