'Attack, Attack, Attack!' : Boycott Slams McCullum-Stokes' Bazball Tactics 

image-ls9v8yovEngland were bowled out for 292 chasing 399 [X.com]

After relishing the glory on England's ultraggressive 'Bazball' tactics following the win in the first Test in Hyderabad, coach Brendon McCullum and skipper Ben Stokes' sustained ploy fell flat on its face in failing to withstand the Indian attack in the run-chase in the second Test in Visakhapatnam. 

England did bat impressively to reach 292 in their quest to hunt down the imposing 399-run target on a track keeping low and slow without ever breaking open to offer alarming turn or uneven bounce but the 107-run defeat also brought India back in the series, levelling 1-1. 



However, even as the world lauded England's courageous display in the final innings, batting great Geoffrey Boycott slammed the tourists for persisting with an overattacking approach. Boycott was particularly critical of the stroke middle-order giant Joe Root played to be dismissed on the pivotal fourth afternoon. 

Boycott Slams England's OverAttacking Display 

"Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes are besotted with attack, attack, attack. It's as if they say 'if we can't win, we will go down in glorious failure instead.' But there is no glory in failure or defeat," Boycott wrote in his column on The Telegraph.

"Bazball is great entertainment when it comes off. But once you believe in an ideal over substance, then you have lost the plot. Today England gave the match away. Bazball was a failure."



Root, whose finger was hurt following a catch attempt during the Indian second-innings, came out with the intent to fetch as many as he could till the point the pain-relief injections taken worked their magic. 

The great batter, renowned for his solidity and defiance in the middle, looked in complete hurry for his 16 off 9 before being dismissed off a hoick against off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on his 10th delivery. 

"Scoring at five an over was entertaining but too many batsmen gave their wickets away after good starts. The best way to achieve a total of nearly 400 is by one of the batsmen scoring a big hundred. Looking to go after good bowlers and scoring quickly comes with risk.Bazball cost Joe Root his wicket. As soon as he came in, he was dancing down the pitch trying to hit it over the top and very soon swiped it up in the air. He only scored 16. 

England's best technical batsman is normally a busy player who scores at a good rate, but trying to go after the bowling as soon as he comes in takes him out of his comfort zone," he added. 

Root's form has been a concern for England in this Test series as their key No.4 has been out to low scores in Hyderabad and Vizag. England will be hoping he recovers from the injury and finds his best form in the next three Tests, with the third Test starting February 15 in Rajkot.