Ben Stokes’ team is rewriting history as England’s “Bazball” Test cricket revolution continues to disrupt the sport’s recognised rules.
The term “Bazball,” which honours England’s head coach Brendon McCullum, describes their all-out offensive strategy.
England has won nine of its ten Test matches since the former New Zealand batter was hired in May, garnering accolades for its lively style of play.
The second-highest run rate by a team in a calendar year since Test cricket began in 1877 was achieved by England in 2022, scoring 4.13 runs per over.
Only the Australian team in 1910 scored more runs per over (4.47) than England did. But that only covered two Test games.
Australia scored 4.08 runs per over in 2003, a contemporary high.
In December, England defeated Pakistan 3-0 by scoring at a scarcely credible 5.50 runs per over.
England have only ever won two Test matches there prior to the series.
Australia scored 3.62 runs per over in 2022 as a point of comparison.
When discussing the series against Pakistan with Wide World of Sports, former Australian captain Ian Chappell claimed that Stokes should receive a lot of the credit for the team’s performance.
He told Wide World of Sports, “It takes balls to play this manner when you’re in a scenario where you can lose.
“Stokes deserves to be commended. It’s simple to say, but it takes fortitude to keep applying acid to yourself.
As a captain, “I genuinely like him because he never gives up trying to win.”
Maximum run rate achieved by a team in a year:
4.47 – 1910 in Australia (2 Tests)
4.13 – In 2022, England (15 Tests)
4.08 – 2003 in Australia (12 Tests)
3.99 – In 2002, Australia (11 Tests)
South Africa in 1902, 3.98 (3 Tests)
