England’s ‘Bazball’ Test cricket revolution continues to challenge the sport’s accepted norms, with Ben Stokes’ team re-writing the history books.
Named after coach Brendon McCullum, ‘Bazball’ refers to England’s approach of all-out attack.
Since the former New Zealand batter was appointed in May, England has won nine of its 10 Test matches, earning widespread praise for the entertaining way it has played the game.
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England scored at 4.13 runs per over in 2022, the second highest run rate by a team in a calendar year since Test cricket started in 1877.
Only the Australian side of 1910 eclipsed England’s rate, scoring at 4.47 runs per over. That, however, was over just two Test matches.
In modern times, Australia scored at 4.08 runs per over in 2003.
In December, England scored at a barely-believable 5.50 runs per over on the way to a 3-0 series win in Pakistan.
Prior to the series, England had only won two Tests in history in that country.
For comparison, Australia scored at 3.62 runs per over in 2022.
Speaking to Wide World of Sports during the series against Pakistan, former Australian captain Ian Chappell said Stokes deserved much of the credit for the way the team was playing.
“It takes balls to play this way when you’re in a situation where you might lose,” he told Wide World of Sports.
“I take my hat off to Stokes. It’s easy to say it, but when the acid is on you he’s kept doing it, that takes courage.
“I really admire him as a captain, because he keeps trying to win.”
Highest run-rate by a team in a calendar year:
4.47 – Australia in 1910 (2 Tests)
4.13 – England in 2022 (15 Tests)
4.08 – Australia in 2003 (12 Tests)
3.99 – Australia in 2002 (11 Tests)
3.98 – South Africa in 1902 (3 Tests)
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