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Ravichandran Ashwin has criticised England’s approach during the recent T20I series in India suggesting they cannot ignore attritional cricket.
England endured a 1-4 defeat in the five-match series. (BCCI Photo)
Following India’s demolition of England in the fifth T20I, India head coach Gautam Gambhir had said the team is aiming for “high-risk, high-reward cricket” and that they try to get 250-260 runs in every T20I. Their intent was quite evident during the five-match series against England with the team not resorting to watchful approach despite losing wickets in heaps in the last two T20Is.
In Pune, the venue of 4th T20I, India lost nine wickets and posted 189 runs before racking up 247/9 in Mumbai. Both culminated into impressive victories.
Ravichandran Ashwin is happy with the approach but has requested the team to not fall into the ‘Bazball’ pit that England find themselves in.
“I was reading that Gambhir wants the team to score 240-260 in every game. I am on board with this approach. For Gambhir Gambit, I have on suggestion: Keep playing this way but don’t play like England, please!” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. “You can call the template Bazball or anything but it’s not right.
“Yesterday (Sunday) you could seen them smiling despite their batters getting out to give an impression that they are cool with this approach. There’s a fine line between playing aggressive cricket and reckless cricket. India are playing aggressive cricket these days. But I have my reservations with England’s style,” he added.
Ashwin says England are managing to eke out wins with their all-out aggressive intent, but they are losing more matches which should worry them.
England were unhappy with the fact that India were allowed Harshit Rana, an out and out fast bowler, as a concussion sub for allrounder Shivam Dube who bowls military pace during the 4th T20I. Rana took three wickets and played a key role in India’s win.
However, Dube then ended up picking two wickets in the fifth T20I and Ashwin indicated that England should have batted with a point to prove.
“If I was England, I would be really worried. Bazball is fine but they are losing more than they are winning. It’s a serious matter of concern. You may call attritional cricket as being old (fashioned) but you cannot ignore it. The thinking is questionable. I know they were upset about Harshit Rana coming in as concussion substitute but in 5th T20I, they gave wickets to Shivam Dube as well. What’ the difference then? They must prove a point,” he said.
