England’s 4-1 Test series loss in India, which included an innings and 64-run defeat in Dharamsala last week, has left coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes with a number of difficult decisions to make.
Ben Stokes, the captain, and coach Brendon McCullum have a number of tough choices ahead of them following England’s humiliating 4-1 Test series loss to India, which culminated in an innings-and-64-run loss in Dharamsala last week. With their side not playing in a red-ball match again until July at Lord’s against the West Indies, they will, nevertheless, have plenty of time to carry out a comprehensive analysis. Looked at by AFP Sport are some of the major problems England is now facing in Test cricket.
McCullum’s post-series admission that England would need to “refine” their strategy was a step in the right direction if self-awareness is the source of wisdom.
‘Baz’ McCullum and Stokes have lost seven of the last dozen Test matches after winning ten of their first eleven under their leadership.
The fundamental ideas of “Bazball,” a strategy based on the notion of attempting to liberate players from the fear of failing and going up against the opposition, are generally agreed upon.
During a third-Test collapse in Rajkot, top batsman Joe Root was removed off a risky reverse scoop, but there were moments when it seemed like England was overstating their own words.
It was worth noting that when Root returned to type scores of 122 not out, 11, 26, and 84 promptly followed.
England may still have been beaten if they had taken a more nuanced approach — it has been 12 years since India lost a Test series at home — but it was telling when former New Zealand captain McCullum said: “We will allow the dust and hurt to settle a bit and then use that to make the changes we need to ensure we are a better version of what we started out as.
“We will have some time to reflect and come back bigger, stronger and more refined.”
