What is Bazball?
The term ‘Bazball’ found its roots after England’s Test cricket team underwent a dramatic transformation in their style of play. The catalyst for this change was none other than McCullum, who took over as the head coach for the English team in the Test format. Moreover, the appointment of Ben Stokes as the team’s captain in the Test format added fuel to the fire. Together, this dynamic duo implemented a highly aggressive approach to Test cricket, and the world was captivated by their exciting brand of play.
Bazball’s origin
The word was first coined by the UK editor of ESPNCricinfo, Andrew Miller, in a podcast which didn’t take much in 2022 and didn’t take much time to become the talk of the town. England recently even made a resounding statement with this ‘bazball’ approach when they drew the Ashes 2023 series against their traditional rivals, Australia.
Collins Dictionary adds ‘Bazball’ as a new word
Adding the term ‘Bazball’ as a new word, The Collins Dictionary defines it as “a style of Test cricket in which the batting side plays in a highly aggressive manner.” The word’s origin in the dictionary is attributed to McCullum, affectionately known as ‘Baz’.
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Interestingly, McCullum himself has earlier expressed his reservations about the term, stating, “I don’t really like that silly term that people are throwing out there. Because there’s actually quite a bit of thought that goes into it.”
Marnus Labuschagne trolls the decision
As the news of ‘Bazball’s’ inclusion in the Collins dictionary made headlines, cricket enthusiasts and players around the world reacted differently. Among those with an opinion, Marnus Labuschagne, the Australian star batter, offered a blunt and unapologetic reaction.
Currently representing Australia in the ODI World Cup 2023, Labuschagne was asked by reporters about his thoughts on ‘Bazball.’ His response was far from diplomatic as he stated that he wasn’t even aware of the term and went on to call it a ‘garbage’ decision. A video capturing his candid reaction quickly circulated, sparking discussions among cricket fans and pundits.
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