'It won't sustain' - Fans criticize England's 'bazball' approach as they declare their first innings early against New Zealand

Brendon McCullum-Ben Stokes (Source: Twitter)

The Bazball approach used by the England Cricket Team under the leadership of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes has reaped huge rewards. They have not lost a single match with this approach being used. This is the counter-attacking style of play that has put the opposition under pressure. While bazball has established a huge fanbase, it is now receiving some criticism.

The Three Lions are currently playing a Test Match against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval. After losing the toss on Day 1, the visitors were asked to bat first. They scored 325 runs in 58 overs in the first innings before declaring it. The decision has left everyone wondering what England's strategy was behind the decision.

Many people believe that the decision was made to keep Jimmy Anderson fresh for the new ball. However, others criticised the decision calling the England team overconfident with their bazball approach. "Their approach has blown up all conventions. Having said that, it won't sustain if they fail more often than not," wrote a fan on Twitter. Another fan said, "Confidence is good but overconfidence hurts..." A third user wrote, "Thats pathetic approach. Ruining test cricket."

In the meantime, Harry Brook played an outstanding innings for the team led by Ben Stokes. He scored 84 runs in just 64 deliveries that he faced while hitting 14 boundaries. Ollie Pope and Ben Fokes also played small cameos in the innings, scoring 42 runs and 38 runs in the innings, respectively. For the Kiwis, Neil Wager was the pick of the bowlers with his spell of 16.2-0-82-4.

On the other hand, the Blackcaps struggled to get going with the bat in their first innings. They lost their first three wickets for a score of just 31 runs in only 14 overs. At the end of Day 1, they managed to score 37 runs and lost three wickets in 18 overs. They will resume on Day 2 with Henry Nicholls (4 runs in 7 balls) and night-watchman Wagner (4 runs in 13 balls) in the middle.

Here is how Twitter reacted to England's early declaration

Thats pathetic approach. Ruining test cricket.

— 𝐙𝐞𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐧 (@ItsMeeZeee) February 16, 2023

They are just not interested to play test cricket

— Shaikh Sohail 🇮🇳 | شیخ سہیل (@shaikhsohaill10) February 16, 2023

Confidence is good but over confidence hurts..

— Mubaikar (@itsmemumbaikar) February 16, 2023

I think 2 days are enough for bazzball era tests 🥱

— Rony (@lmaodedman) February 16, 2023

Am I looking at scorecard of oneday or test.

Just 58 overs and they scored 325 in just two sessions.

What kind of pitch is this?.

— Vikas singh (@vikas_shre) February 16, 2023

😳😳😳😳

— Umais Malik (@BrawlUmais) February 16, 2023

wtf????? 😐😐😐

— Subhradip Majumder (@itzsubhro) February 16, 2023

Is 325 a score on which a team declare in the first inning of a test? In fact they had nothing left in batting, so they did it.

— Madan Mohan Sharma (@mathsirmadan127) February 16, 2023

325-9 with so much publicity of Bazball does not worth it. This Eng batting cant score more than 200 on indian pitches.

— Robin Saini (@RSK_Robin) February 16, 2023

Their approach has blown up all conventions. Having said that, it won't sustain if they fail more often than not

— Sourav Haldar (@Nirbhik_Speaks) February 16, 2023