Overview
- England’s Test style under head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes prioritises fearless, positive decisions with bat and in the field, producing record scoring rates.
- The term, coined by ESPN Cricinfo’s Andrew Miller, gained widespread currency and entered the Collins dictionary in November 2023.
- Under McCullum, England climbed to second in the ICC Test rankings, with the coach also taking charge of the men’s white‑ball sides from September 2024.
- McCullum says the label invites misconceptions, as debate continues between critics who call the approach too risky and observers who note it has become more measured.
- Australian voices such as Nathan Lyon and Adam Gilchrist downplay its novelty, while recent analysis casts Bazball as a belief system demanding full player buy‑in that is being tested during the Ashes.