IND vs ENG 2024: “We’re not allowed to say Bazball” – Ollie Pope claims England’s approach ‘isn’t always about attacking’

England vice-captain Ollie Pope has claimed that their team’s approach isn’t always about playing aggressive cricket. With Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes at the helm, England has adopted Bazball, which has reaped rewards for the team in the last couple of years.

England stunned India by 28 runs in the opening Test match whereas the hosts bounced back to win the second Test match by 106 runs. England has been taking the bulls by its horns and has given India a run for their money in the first two Test matches despite an inexperienced spin attack.

Meanwhile, Pope scored a magnificent knock of 196 runs in the second innings of the opening Test match at Hyderabad to help England take a lead of 230 runs.

“Everyone bats differently in this team. We’re not allowed to say Bazball, but the start that we’re making isn’t always about attacking. A lot of the time it’s about absorbing pressure when we need to absorb pressure,” Ollie Pope said while talking to reporters.

On the other hand, England’s captain Ben Stokes will play his 100th Test match for the national team. Pope reckons the all-rounder has changed the game in a lot of respects. Stokes has played plenty of match-winning knocks in the red-ball version and he has also led from the front since taking over the captaincy baton from Joe Root.

“He has probably changed the game in a lot of respects, he has just got a way of bringing out the very best of him when the team needs it. Even in the Ashes at Lord’s (155 in the second innings) , which I remember thinking about ‘how does he obviously take it to a new level when all the pressure is on him’”

The third Test match between India and England will be played at Rajkot from 15th February onwards.