England Sticks With Bazball After Tough Perth Loss

England left Perth with a tough defeat and a lot to think about. But even after getting crushed in just two days, the team is not expected to change its aggressive “Bazball” style when they face Australia again in Brisbane.

Head coach Brendon “Baz” McCullum has never been the type to back down or change direction. As a player and a leader, he always believed in attacking cricket. Years before Bazball became a famous term, McCullum built his name by playing bold shots from the very first ball. He even led New Zealand to the 2015 World Cup final by sticking to that mindset. In the final, he tried the same approach and was bowled out quickly by Mitchell Starc — but he never changed his belief in aggressive cricket.

England captain Ben Stokes shares that same attitude. Stokes is fully committed to Bazball, and he drives the team with that energy. Changing the style now would mean Stokes turning away from everything he has pushed for over the last three years — and that seems very unlikely.

England’s history in Australia is not encouraging. They haven’t won the Ashes there after losing the first Test since the 1950s. But McCullum and Stokes will point to recent comebacks. In 2022, they beat South Africa 2–1 after losing the opening Test. In the 2023 Ashes, they were down 0–2 but controlled most of the rest of the series.

Still, the loss in Perth was a reminder of how risky Bazball can be. England were in a strong position until they lost five wickets in 40 minutes, handing the game back to Australia. Some experts think Bazball is too dangerous in Australian conditions, where the fast, bouncy pitches and disciplined bowlers can punish mistakes. Former Australia captain Greg Chappell even wrote that Perth might be remembered as the moment Bazball finally hit a wall.

Others argue the opposite. They say Travis Head’s fast century — scored in just 69 balls — looked a lot like Bazball, only done by an Australian.

The next match in Brisbane is a day-night Test, and those games rarely last long. All 13 pink-ball Tests in Australia have ended with a result before day five. With star bowler Pat Cummins trying to return from a back injury, England’s challenge only gets harder.

Even if England lose again and fall behind 0–2, McCullum and Stokes are expected to keep trusting their approach. But if things continue to go wrong, the three-year Bazball era may face some hard questions — and very soon.

Also Read: Stokes Praises Head’s Big Knock as England Faces Tough Questions