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'Bazball' becoming a burden for England as batting crisis on foreign soil exposed in The Ashes

Akshita Patel

The dark side of Bazball [Source: AFP Photos]The dark side of Bazball [Source: AFP Photos]

The Ashes 2025 was supposed to be another big moment for England’s bold, fearless “Bazball” era. Instead, the opening Test at Perth felt like a harsh reality check.

Once again, England’s batters walked in with attacking intent and walked out far too early. The scorecard didn’t just show a defeat. It showed a pattern England can no longer ignore.

England can’t bat more than 40 overs

England's totals since Champions Trophy 2025 across formats

  • vs SA: 179 in 38.2 overs (ODI)
  • vs NZ: 223 in 35.2 overs (ODI)
  • vs NZ: 175 in 36 overs (ODI)
  • vs NZ: 222 in 40.2 overs (ODI)
  • vs AUS: 172 in 32.5 overs (Test)
  • vs AUS: 164 in 34.4 overs (Test)

Since their Champions Trophy innings against Afghanistan, where they scored 317 in 49.5 overs, England have struggled to even cross the 40-over mark away from home. 

To say it’s poor form would be an understatement. It’s a full-blown crisis. In South Africa, they folded for 179 in 38.2 overs. 

In New Zealand, it was 223, 175, and 222, all in under 41 overs. Then came Australia, where England was all out for 172 in 32.5 overs and 164 in 34.4 overs.

Each time, they were bowled out. This is where the romantic notion of Bazball begins to become dangerous.

The dark side of Bazball cannot be ignored for too long

The aggressive style has lost its freshness. Under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, England played with freedom, intent, and bravery. 

They stopped fearing collapse and started attacking bowling like never before. At home and in certain conditions, it worked. The crowds loved it. The team felt alive.

But away from home, life is different. The pitches have more movement. The bowlers are sharper. The pressure is higher. And this is where England seems lost. 

Instead of adapting, they seem stuck in one gear. They swing at deliveries that need respect. They chase runs that don’t exist. They hurry when patience is the real requirement. And all of it happens under the banner of “positive cricket.”

At Perth, this flaw was painfully clear. Australia didn’t need magic spells. They just needed to stay disciplined. England did the rest themselves. 

Loose shots, poor judgment, no partnerships. It looked less like brave cricket and more like careless cricket.

The real worry is that this mindset has spread across formats. Tests, ODIs and even in T20Is, England seem obsessed with speed. But cricket isn’t a race. It’s a game of control. Of phases. Of choosing the right moment to attack and the right moment to survive.

Bazball needs urgent fixing

Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum deserve credit for changing England’s mentality. They took away fear. They brought in belief. But now, it’s time for introspection. 

A style that refuses to evolve becomes predictable. And a team that refuses to adapt starts to regress.

England don’t need to abandon aggression. They need to balance it with brains.

Bazball cannot just be about playing shots. It has to be about understanding situations, respecting conditions, and valuing time at the crease. 

Until that change happens, England’s future, especially away from home, looks worrying.

The Perth loss should not just be a defeat. It should be a warning.