We refined Bazball slightly as the series wore on: Brendon McCullum

In the recently concluded Ashes 2023, England were under some pressure as there were question marks about the Bazball strategy. Things escalated after the home team suffered back-to-back defeats and were on the verge of humiliation. However, the team slightly changed their approach in Headingley, introduced Chris Woakes and Mark Wood in the playing XI and since then, their fortunes changed as the series ended 2-2. 

Speaking about their comeback, England head coach Brendon McCullum mentioned that they slightly tweaked their strategy in the final three matches, and that’s the reason they managed to make a comeback. He also lauded the players for having the right mindset and staying true under pressure.

“Sometimes we’ll get the balance wrong with the style we play, but I think you’ve got to have teams good enough to stand up to you and make you pay when the time comes. Australia did that in the first couple of Test matches, but I think we refined it slightly as the series wore on. From our point of view the most pleasing aspect is when we were under the most pressure at 2-0 down we stayed true to that conviction and were able to manufacture some results that allowed us to walk away at 2-2,” McCullum was quoted as saying by Mirror.

McCullum lauds Zak Crawley for phenomenal Ashes 2023

England opener Zak Crawley had a sensational time in the Ashes 2023. The 25-year-old hit 480 runs in five matches and played a very important role in helping England make a strong comeback. Appreciating his efforts, Brendon McCullum lauded Crawley and mentioned that he was under a lot of pressure, but Ben Stokes eventually talked him out of it.

“Coming into the series Zak was under quite a lot of pressure,” said McCullum. “And thanks to the skipper’s sincere messaging he was able to block it out. Scoring 480 runs at a strike rate of 90 against the best bowling attack in the world, against the Dukes ball in an Ashes series, people don’t do that,” McCullum added.