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McCullum's 'Excessively Prepared' Test Series Mistake Could Become England's Bazball Epitaph
The England head coach loathed the term Bazball the moment it emerged, viewing it as overly simplistic and maybe foreseeing how it could be weaponised down the line. Currently, down 2-0 in an Test series in Australia that started with high hopes, it has become the butt of mockery from Australia.
But the coach has contributed to the problem either. After the crushing loss at the Gabba, his claim that, if anything, England were 'too prepared' before the pink-ball match was akin to attempting to extinguish a bin fire with petrol. It risks becoming his lasting legacy as England head coach if performances do not improve.
On one level, you almost have to admire his dedication to the philosophy. As much as he claims to block out external noise, he must have been acutely aware of an England team increasingly characterised as freewheeling and lacking preparation.
The truth, as ever, is more nuanced. England play as much golf during their scheduled breaks as their opponents and they practice equally hard. Before the Gabba Test, they trained for longer, logging five days to Australia's three, given their lack of exposure to the pink ball and the different seeing conditions.
The Debate of Preparation and Training
The coach's point about being "excessively ready" was that those five extra days were his call – the instance he wavered in his belief that minimal preparation is best. It meant a significant amount of focus was expended before they even took the field in the cauldron of Australia's fortress. While nets are a opportunity to iron out skills, they can also become a safety blanket; zero consequence work that mainly keeps the reflexes sharp.
Fixtures are tight such that warm-up matches against state sides were unavailable (and no guarantee, as shown by England having played three before the 5-0 series loss in 2013-14). What is harder to square is the disregard of domestic red-ball cricket as a worthwhile exercise in general, evidenced by Jacob Bethell's unproductive season.
On-Field Deficiencies and Philosophical Lack of Evolution
Match practice alone prepares cricketers for the various scenarios they walk out to face, and it is here where England have thus far been found lacking. The issue is not just with the bat – harrowing as some of the shot selection has been – but an attack that seems without a spearhead. No bowler has shown the patience or control that the otherworldly Australian paceman and his teammates have displayed.
The coach's unconventional approach was liberating during its initial year, an effective, well diagnosed remedy to eradicate the lethargy that came before. The disappointment now stems from how it has seemingly not evolved past that initial phase – the lack of an upgrade to the original software that has seen form decline to an even record from their most recent matches.
Squad Spotlight and Selection Dilemmas
One such player is the wicketkeeper-batter, a talent, undoubtedly, but one who is being mercilessly targeted on each side of the bat and missed two crucial opportunities with the gloves. It probably does not help when your opposite number, the Australian keeper, has just produced a masterful performance.
Based on McCullum's comments after the match, England look likely to persist with Smith in Adelaide. The hope – as is the case – is that a switch to a traditional match environment triggers his top form, with Perth's trampoline surface and the unfamiliar floodlit Test now out of the way.
The alternative is to implement the plan discovered during the victorious series in New Zealand 12 months ago by moving Ollie Pope down to his preferred position as a active No. 5 or 6, giving him the wicketkeeping duties, and selecting a fresh face at first drop. Bethell scored runs for the Lions recently, or maybe an all-rounder could fulfil a similar role to Moeen Ali in 2023.
Ultimately, these changes is perfect, with Australia's better fundamentals having shattered pre-series optimism and pushed the broader philosophy into the spotlight.
Margaret Crane
A tech enthusiast and writer passionate about exploring the latest innovations and sharing practical lifestyle advice.
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