The predictability of Bazball tied to bland pitches in England

Not too long ago, winning the toss and batting was the norm. Notwithstanding overhead conditions, soil texture or the roller type used, it is generally accepted that the pitch stays good for batting till the third day before it starts leaning towards the bowlers.

- Somshuvra Laha

In England though, Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum have ripped out that page from the pitch preparation manual with largely favourable results — 16 wins, 5 defeats and one draw — since they joined forces in June, 2022.

Seven of those wins came after England chose to bowl. In each of the five Tests England lost the toss and were asked to bowl, they won. So convinced was Stokes about this approach that in the Birmingham Test of 2022, he won the toss and promptly said “we'll have a chase” instead of “we'll have a bowl!”. England chased down 378 on the fifth day.

This was a bold England, but also a predictable England, courtesy the pitches that facilitated their freestyle batting. Winning the toss thus is one of the two ways of wrong-footing England. The other is what India did at Edgbaston — bury them under so many runs that chasing becomes inconceivable as does grinding out a draw because it’s not hardwired into their psyche.