Ashes 2023: The End of Bazball?

Pat Cummins' Australian team will attempt to finish "Bazball" once and for all by taking an unassailable 3-0 lead with victory at Headingley on Sunday.

Security denied Brendan McCullum entry on day 1 of the Leeds test match, something they might have to correctly do in future if his English team collapse on day 4 of the Headingley test.(Credit: Reuters)

Since Brendan "Baz" McCullum took over as coach last year, England have played a brand of cricket that is not akin to their predecessors. Named after their head coach, Bazball is characterised by a license for all players to bat aggressively, no matter the situation partnered with dynamic fielding tactics. Under Baz, the days of Chris Tavare and Geoffrey Boycott appear firmly fixed in the rear view mirror, however it still up for debate just how successful the brand of cricket really is… England is facing the prospect of going down 3-0 in the Ashes if they fail to perform on Sunday. Could this be end of Bazball?

We head into Day 4 of the Headingley test with the match and series on a knifes edge as England require another 224 runs for victory. At one point on Day 3 it was looking like the Aussies would set a very modest total for England to chase but Travis Head had other ideas. In a series where it has looked like England has no plan B other than having Ollie Robinson and Stuart Broad write articles in the BBC and Daily Mail respectively, the poms have a chance on Sunday to prove their plan A works just fine.

The Leeds test has been just as entertaining as the opening tests in Birmingham and London with Mark Wood being a key in for English side. If it were not for superb individual performances with the bat from Mitch Marsh and Travis Head, England could have won this test match within two days. Despite this, the Aussies remain a chance to win the Leeds test and take victory in the series.

Before I dive into the situation that could cause the end of Bazball, there are a few shoutouts that must be made for some inspirational Headingley performances.

Shoutout #1: Travis Head - The saviour

Travis Head in action fending off yet another short ball on Day 3 (Credit: Getty Images)

When Alex Carey was removed for 5, the Aussies had a humble lead of 165 as England got a look at the Australian tail. The only problem for the poms, was that Travis Head was still in the middle and in a mood where the cricket ball was looking like a watermelon. Head faced a barrage of short balls from Mark Wood and Chris Woakes, who was the pick of the bowlers on day 3. To combat the short balls, Head would pre-meditate to great effect, opening up his stance allowing Travis to hit 7 fours and 3 sixes on his way to 77 where he was eventually caught in the deep by little man, Ben Duckett off the bowling of Stuart Broad.

Head's prolific knock put the Aussies back in a winnable position and has given them a chance at an unlikely victory.

Shoutout #2: Mark Wood - The Difference

Mark Wood punching the air on Day 3 as Australia set England 251 runs to keep the series alive (Credit: PA)

After missing the first two tests due to injury, Mark Wood proved just how important he is to this England side. When Wood was in full flight on day 1, it looked like a year 12 schoolboy had joined in the year 7 lunchtime game as the bowling was simply too quick. The importance of Wood cannot be understated as England are also without other rapid pace bowler, Jofra Archer for the Ashes as he recovers from a stress fracture. Despite Broad, Anderson and Robinson being good medium-fast bowlers, the bowling attack looks a much more dangerous outfit when Wood or Archer are involved.

A deserved 5-wicket-haul for Wood in the first innings, who actually seems like a decent bloke which is becoming less common in this England side.

Shoutout #3: Mitch Marsh - The Freak

Pure relief and elation as Mitch Marsh raises his bat to an incredible century on Day 1 (Credit: Getty Images / Stu Forster)

A player who said "most of Australia hates me" back in 2019, batted beautifully and almost causally made a run a ball century in his first test match in 4 years. If that's not remarkable enough, Marsh's 118 was done on a day dominated by the ball. A Freakish knock by the West Australian and one that will be remembered for years to come, particularly if the Aussies cause an upset victory on Sunday.

In the same interview in 2019, Marsh said "hopefully I'll win them [Australia] over one day". In a two hour period on day 1, Mitch Marsh indeed, won over a nation.

How can this be the end of Bazball?

Duo Ben Stokes and English Coach Brendan McCullum (Credit: Getty Images)

Day 4 could mark the end of Bazball if England collapse like they did on day 3 of the Lord's Test Match. A day that saw England lose 6-47 in a ridiculous hour of cricket where previously, Brendan McCullum's side were on top. Should the English batsmen get out cheaply and lose quick wickets on Sunday resulting in the ultimate loss of the Ashes series, serious questions must be asked of the English strategy. Yes, the strategy has been recently successful against Pakistan and New Zealand, but the Aussies have so far exposed the strategy to have no plan B.

If Pat Cummins and the Aussie bowlers are simply too good and win the series off the back of a strong bowling and fielding display, Bazball will likely fight another day. However, the end of Bazball could occur if England players "throw away" their wickets and ultimately lose the test match whilst trying to go at 6 runs an over. With two days left, there's no need for the English side to score quick runs but if the players hold true to their Bazball strategy, which I suspect they will, the test will be over on Sunday. With the game on a knifes edge, I envisage only three possible themes to play out on Sunday:

1. Aussies too good as Pat Cummins takes five-wickets

2. England and Ben Stokes win the third test going at a run a ball

3. Bazball is finished as England throw their wickets away

Day 4 and the potential end of Bazball begins at 8pm AEST Sunday night on Channel 9 WWOS.