Whether we win or lose, people are going to remember us for the way we played: Ollie Robinson

In the ongoing Test series between England and India, a notable transformation has taken hold within the English cricketing camp. Spearheaded by skipper Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, a revolutionary approach to Test cricket has emerged, one that places emphasis not solely on results, but on how the game is played. Ollie Robinson, though yet to play a Test match in the ongoing series, opened up with an invaluable insight on what it truly means to represent the current English Test team.

Bazball, the new mindset introduced by the England camp, has injected a refreshing approach into the traditional format of the game. Robinson in his Wisden column revealed that, "The message that keeps coming from Ben and Baz is that results are irrelevant to us – it’s the way that we play. The way that we’re playing and the brand of cricket that we play is how we want to be seen and perceived.” 

Ollie Robinson reveals England's strategy

Under the leadership of Ben Stokes, England has started a proactive approach to ceiling victory, even in tricky situations. Robinson spoke about a pivotal moment in this shift which came in during the 2019 Ashes at Headingley, where Stokes incorporated this newfound strategy through his remarkable performance. 

He revealed the mantra of playing with flair and fearlessness.”So whether we chase it or not, we just want to entertain and show people that this is how we’re going to play cricket. We want to show teams around the world that this is how we’re going to play cricket. And this is how we’re going to keep Test cricket alive by playing this way,” the 30-year-old bowler wrote. For England, success is measured not merely by victories but by the brand of cricket they play.

"Just keep entertaining, keep trying to pull off the impossible, and keep believing that. For us, it’s about the way we play. It’s really special for us to get together as a team and to leave our mark on the game of cricket. This is how we have to play. Whether we win or lose, people are going to remember us for the way we played and that’s what we’re all aiming for – to be remembered and to leave a mark on the game,” he concluded.

The series is level and the action has shifted to Rajkot where the first day of play has been quite balanced, with visitors already picking three wickets and India batting on 111.

Also read: Rohit Sharma hugs emotional Sarfaraz Khan's father in a heartwarming gesture