BAZ: GET FANS BACK ON OUR SIDE

Coach urges players to 'show humility' & make public part of the journey

- BY MIKE WALTERS @MikeWaltersMGM

BRENDON McCULLUM has told his England players to “show some humility” after admitting the public's faith in Bazball has cooled.

Ahead of an era-defining eight months of Test cricket, McCullum conceded England had “probably let some opportunities” slip by allowing their “freewheeling” style to stray the wrong side of the line between bravado and hubris.

On the eve of the summer's opening Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, the chief architect of Bazball tuned in to the chattering classes and delivered an overdue reminder that England supporters want a winning team, not just laughing cavaliers. When McCullum and skipper Ben Stokes joined forces in 2022, they revolutionised England's approach, turning a dismal run of one win in 17 Tests into winning 10 of the next 11.