'I'm just intrigued to see how long it lasts' - Steve Smith challenges England's 'Bazball' approach

Australian batter Steve Smith has taken a jibe at the ‘Bazball’ after this technique has helped them in achieving success in the home Tests in the last couple of months. England’s positive and fearless approach to Test cricket has been labeled as Bazball and this has happened ever since skipper Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum have been at the helm of affairs.

Nonetheless, Steve Smith reckons the Bazball will not last for too long once they step out of their comfort zone i.e. home conditions and has wondered whether the famed English batters would be able to replicate their positive approach on a perfect green wicket where Australia’s lethal frontline bowlers will be bowling.

We’ll see what happens: Steve Smith

“It’s been exciting, I’m just intrigued to see how long it lasts if it’s sustainable,” Smith told on the eve of Australia’s second Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. “If you come on a wicket that’s got some grass on it and Josh Hazlewood, Cummins and Starc are rolling in at you, is it going to be the same? We’ll see what happens,” he added.

Smith might have made this statement confidently referring to the Ashes 2021/22 where the Aussies had steamrolled England 4-0 in December-January. Meanwhile, under the Stokes-McCullum partnership, England have succeeded in winning all the four Test matches that they have played so far this summer i.e. a 3-0 whitewash against New Zealand followed by a series-levelling victory against India in the just-concluded rescheduled fifth Test match.

The Three Lions scripted their highest-ever run chase in red-ball cricket against India at Edgbaston as centuries from Joe Root (142*) and Jonny Bairstow (114*) helped them chase down 378 runs in the first hour of the fifth day. Both Root and Bairstow were involved in an unbeaten 269-run stand for the fourth wicket despite the hosts being reduced to 109/3 after a well-set Alex Lees was run out for 56. It was Bairstow’s dropped catch by Hanuma Vihari at slips that proved to be the turning point of the contest.