506 runs. 75 overs. Four centuries.
England proved the “BazBall” revolution was no gimmick on Thursday, embarrassing Pakistan’s inexperienced bowling attack on the opening day of the first Test in Rawalpindi.
The visitors scored 6.75 runs per over on the lifeless deck, breaking a 112-year-old record for most runs on the first day of a Test match — bettering Australia’s 6-494 against South Africa at the SCG in 1910.
The Pakistanis were lucky bad light prematurely ended the onslaught after 75 overs, otherwise England was legitimately on track to register 600 runs in the day while most of the squad was still battling illness.
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It was also the first time four batters registered hundreds on day one of a Test — Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett combined for a 233-run opening partnership before young guns Ollie Pope and Harry Brooks brought up centuries later in the afternoon.
Crawley’s 86-ball century was the fastest by an England opener in Tests.
BazBall isn’t just about being aggressive with willow in hand — England’s cricketers are playing with confidence and conviction, trusting the process and throwing their support behind the new leadership group.
There’s no fear of failure.
“It’s incredible,” former England bowler Isa Guha said on Fox Cricket.
“They obviously want to win games of cricket, but they talk about the process of being free in the mind when it comes to batting.
“Nothing is impossible for this team.”
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Since coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes took charge of the Test side earlier this year, England has been a revelation in the five-day format.
England’s top-order has been particularly fearless in the fourth innings — in July, they chased a 378-run target against India in less than 77 overs.
The speed at which conversation shifted from whether England could bat out a draw to how quickly they would chase the record target was dumbfounding.
England had emerged victorious from just one of its 17 Test matches before McCullum took charge in May. Since then, they have won six out of seven matches.
“I think Brendon’s been a huge influence on this team in terms of just having his presence there,” Guha told foxsports.com.au.
“As someone who’s been an inspirational captain, the way he played the game with a lot of freedom. It’s something Ben Stokes has wanted to instil in his players.
“The mindset has been created from not fearing getting out and having that kind of fearless approach to batting in Test cricket. He’s very much supported the players to go out there and be positive.
“A significant moment for me was in the first Test match of this new era at Lord’s where Jonny Bairstow got out and he was dismissed caught behind after a couple of boundaries and there was a little bit of criticism around his approach in that situation, but he went straight back into the dressing room and all he got was support from Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.
“He ended up having the best season of his life that summer because he had that backing from coach and captain.
“That’s filtered through the rest of the group … it’s allowed players to play positive.
“There are no limits.”
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It’s undeniably exciting for fans, but can it be sustained in an Ashes series? The Australians are unconvinced.
“It’s certainly been entertaining,” Steve Smith said in July.
“If you come on a wicket that’s got some grass and Josh Hazlewood, (Pat) Cummins and (Mitchell) Starc are rolling in at you. Is it going to be the same?”
The BazBall mentality isn’t foolproof, of course. England suffered a heavy innings and 12 run loss to South Africa at Lord’s in August after being rolled for 165 and 149 in overcast conditions.
“Bazball didn’t work that Test,” Australian veteran David Warner smirked at the time.
“I haven’t really taken much notice of it.
“But I don’t know if you guys know, we’ve got RonBall.
“We’ve been talking about RonBall, so it’s gonna be interesting this summer to see how that goes.”
Ron is the Australian team’s pet name for coach Andrew McDonald. During a net session in Perth on Tuesday, McDonald’s entrance was greeted by a chorus on “RonBall” from Warner, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne.
The Australian cricketers have previously brushed off the threat of BazBall, scoffing at suggestions that it’s revolutionising Test cricket, but will Thursday’s record-breaking demolition force them to take it more seriously?
Should the Australian seamers bowl a different length? Set different fields? Will it impact team selection?
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“Stokes and McCullum are very aware Australia is a good Test side and they’ve talked about they may not be the best Test team, but they will certainly be the boldest – and it’s about that for them really, having that bold, courageous approach,” Guha said.
“This new-found approach that England are putting together – it makes it entertaining viewing.
“These two (Stokes and McCullum) understand and are trying to instil in the players that this is the business of entertainment at the end of the day.
“You’ve got to make it entertaining to watch if you want to bring people to the game and inspire people to play cricket.”
Meanwhile, former Australian spinner Kerry O’Keeffe predicted that England would win the 2023 Ashes series.
“If they play recklessly at times that’ll be to Australia’s advantage, but full credit to England for draining the brains out of Christchurch and Dunedin … they’re changing Test cricket,” O’Keeffe told Fox Cricket.
“I think there’s a lot of water to flow under the bridge in this Australian team for England, and I think there’s a few question marks over our side whereas they will be very settled.”
England was ultimately bowled out for 657 in 101 overs, its highest Test score in Asia. It marked the first time a team had scored at better than a run-a-ball in the first innings of a Test match.
Stokes’ men collectively smacked 95 boundaries, the most they have ever managed in a Test innings.
