'I don't think India killed Bazball' - Steve Harmison makes massive claim defending England’s performance in India

Ben Stokes-led England made their return to the longest format with their ongoing series against the West Indies. The last time England played a Test series was when they toured India. The side was handed a 1-4 series defeat in the five-game series, and many believed that England’s bazball approach had finally been defeated. 

However, despite popular opinion, former England pacer Steve Harmison came forward to state that India did not kill bazball and that England played good cricket when they toured India for the series. 

Harmison also stated that the current England Test setup is way better than the previous regime, and despite the side’s final performance against India in the Test series, Bazball has been working for the team.

“I thought they (England) played excellent cricket in India. They gave India some real headaches. But then, all of a sudden, when you get to a point that you go, 'oh no, they've done it again'. How many times you see a crash of wickets? That's the problem, where you need to read a room. You can't have everything in an ideal world. The way these red ball players play now, it's far better than what it was in the previous regime,” Harmison told talkSPORT cricket.

“I don't think India killed Bazball. I think India played better cricket in their own backyard. They made smarter decisions under pressure. But I think there were definitely times during those five Test matches where England gave India a real headache. And not many teams have done that to India in India,” he added. 

Currently, England are engaged in a Test series with the West Indies. The first Test of the series is being played at the Lord’s Cricket Ground. Bowling first, England put in a brilliant performance and followed it up with a just as impressive showing with the ball. 

On the verge of a win in the first Test, England will hope to make a successful return to the longest format with a win at the Lord’s Cricket Ground.