Welcome to Bazball with the brakes on

SINCE the summer of 2022 England have treated us all to some cricket from the future.

- By Jeremy Cross

And how good has it been? But here at one of the oldest grounds in the world, Ben Stokes and company took supporters on a trip back to the past - and the final destination appeared to be a proper Test match.

Those occasions involved sensible batting, disciplined bowling and not a six in sight.

Welcome to Bazball with the brakes on. A fortnight ago some incredible heroics at Headingley saw England chase down 371 for victory - their second highest winning total in Test history.

Defeat then came at Edgbaston and one of the most exciting teams suddenly turned into one of the most sensible ones.