'Will be interesting if India employ the same tactics' - Aakash Chopra on Australia keeping defensive fields to stop Bazball

England have taken Test Cricket by storm with their ‘Bazball’ approach as they have been scoring at 4.85 runs per over since Ben Stokes became their full-time captain in 2022. Under the leadership of Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, the Three Lions have left the cricketing fraternity awestruck with their aggressive brand of cricket. 

The same approach was seen on Day 1 of the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston as Zak Crawley drove Pat Cummins for a four on the very first ball of the day to get the series started in an emphatic fashion. Seeing England continuing their all-out attack mode, a fan on Twitter termed their approach scary as it forced Australia to put up defensive fields in just the fifth over of the day.

The Tweet attracted a reply from former India cricketer turned commentator Aakash Chopra who questioned if India will employ the same tactics to stop the run flow when they will host them for a five-match series in 2024. “Next year India aayenge for 5 Tests…will be interesting if India will employ the same tactics,” wrote Chopra in reply to a Tweet.

Earlier, the commentator had tweeted about Australia keeping a deep point and a deep square leg for a player batting on zero due to Bazball. “5th over of the first day of the series. Wicket has just fallen. There’s a deep point and deep square leg in place for the new man batting on Zero. #TheAshes have come a long way… #EngvAus,” Chopra Tweeted.

Notably, England have won 11 out of 13 Tests played ever since Stokes became full-time captain and are eyeing to win the Ashes for the first time since 2015. On the other hand, Australia have managed to retain the urn since 2017 and are coming into the series on top form having been recently crowned the World Test Champions. The Pat Cummins-led side beat India by 209 runs to win the coveted mace.