Razeen Gutta
England will not give up on their aggressive Bazball approach when the second test against South Africa kicks off in Manchester on Thursday, captain Ben Stokes has confirmed.
The hosts’ attacking approach has so far worked very well for them in the fourth innings of matches under Brendon McCullum. However, by choosing to bowl first and getting England out cheaply twice at Lord’s, the Proteas ensured there was no room for a fourth innings and now look to be the favourites in the series.
South African fans and media back home have appreciated the efforts of Mark Boucher’s side, fondly calling the adaptable yet solid style of play Bouchball, as part of the banter towards England’s Bazball, which is a play on McCullum’s nickname.
Stokes, in his pre-match press conference, was serious on sticking to their guns ahead of the must-win test match, however — stating that England would not be changing their approach.
“Absolutely not,” Stokes said when asked if the hosts would be changing tactics in Manchester. “We know well that when we perform to the capabilities that we’re capable of, then we can go out and put on an incredible performance, like everybody’s seen in the four games before.”
The second test kicks off at 12:00 noon South African time on Thursday with the Proteas looking to seal the three-match series in Manchester.
Image source: @NDTV
