Have England blinked with Bazball approach en route to Ashes defeat?

As the third Test in Adelaide comes to a close, England finds themselves on the brink of an Ashes series defeat, with two Tests to play. The visitors closed day four on 207-6, still 228 runs short of the record 435 required to keep the series alive.

Disappointing Performance

England’s batting approach, dubbed “Bazball” by fans and pundits alike, has been under scrutiny throughout the series. The team’s reliance on aggressive batting has not yielded the desired results on the bouncy pitches in Perth and Brisbane. With the Australian attack relentless, England’s batsmen have struggled to adapt.

Michael Atherton’s Verdict

Sky Sports

‘ Michael Atherton believes that England has “blinked” in terms of their Bazball approach. “I think they’ve blinked with the bat,” Atherton said on the latest Sky Sports Cricket Podcast. “But I think they’ve kind of been forced into that just by the fact that what they have been doing hasn’t been working on the bouncy pitches in Perth and Brisbane, and by the relentlessness of the Australian attack.”

Ben Duckett’s Dismissal

Ben Duckett’s dismissal for a duck in England’s second innings was a stark reminder of the team’s struggles. Atherton described Duckett’s failure as “the encapsulation of the failure of Bazball.” Duckett’s poor series continued, with his top score through the first three Tests being 29.

Nasser Hussain’s Verdict

Nasser Hussain believes that England should make a change in their batting lineup for the upcoming Test in Melbourne. “I can’t see him batting at number three in Melbourne,” Hussain said of Ollie Pope. “To be honest, his career and his series follow a very similar pattern. It starts well, and then slowly he just gets out the same way outside of stump.” Hussain would like to see Jacob Bethell come in at number three.

Series Situation

The Ashes series is currently in Australia’s favor, with the hosts leading 2-0. The next two Tests will be crucial for England, who need to win both to keep their chances alive.

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