WIND IS BACK IN OUR SAILS
Mccullum declares Bazball approach alive and well after a 3-0 whitewash
BRENDON MCCULLUM savoured a clean sweep against the Windies and declared: “Bazball is working.”
The Kiwi (right) cut a contented figure following the 3-0 series victory after a string of selection decisions paid off.
But he was just as pleased with the way Ben Stokes’s players – new and old –dug themselves out of tricky situations. After Gus Atkinson demolished the tourists at Lord’s, the Tests at Trent Bridge and Edgbaston were tighter affairs – and could have turned out differently.
However, England’s players came through and coach Mccullum believes he can see progress. He said: “The West Indies have a very good bowling line-up and I thought the way we countered that with our batting and our approach was exceptional. While it reads 3-0 on the scoreboard, there were periods when we felt the game could have gone either way, but we were able to stand up.
“So, the understanding of how we want to play as a team is starting to get to where we want it to get to.
“We’re not the finished product, but this has been a step forward. You’ve seen the way we want to operate with our batting line-up. Now, 18 months on as a group, we’ve seen they are all playing in their styles and with great freedom because they trust their games and are now more developed players.
“With the bowlers, we’ve got some pretty good ammo there.
“We’ve got some batsmen who can hit balls out of stadiums and catch well, and you’re starting to formulate the sort of side you’re hoping can go up against the best teams in the world.”
Following the chastening 4-1 defeat in India, there has been a clear re-think about having the armoury to take on both teams in the subcontinent on flat pitches and also the Aussies. Shoaib Bashir has overtaken Jack Leach in the spin department while Atkinson (left) has added pace and nip, Chris Woakes has stepped up with the new ball and Mark Wood’s pace, allied to Ben Stokes being fit to bowl, has at least partly offset Jimmy Anderson’s retirement. Mccullum added: “We felt we needed to introduce some new guys with skill sets that would complement the rest.
“You don’t ask for instant gratification, but the way the series played out, you would say the guys have shown they’re good enough at this level. We’ve now got a complementary attack.
“You’ve got Chris Woakes threatening both edges of the bat. Then add the speed of Mark Wood (far left), which is frightening. That fivewicket spell was so deserved for the efforts he put in.
“Gus has touched 90mph, been able to jag the ball off a good length and also been able to operate a bumper plan. Bashir and Stokesy are there too – and other guys waiting in the wings – there’s ammunition that we will need on flat wickets when the need arises.”