Ian Botham claims Bazball has resulted in crowds coming back to Indian stadiums for Tests

Legendary cricketer Ian Botham has claimed that England’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach under captain Ben Stokes has infused a new life into Test cricket, especially in India where crowd is back in stadiums to watch five-day matches. Under coach Brendon McCullum and Stokes’s leadership, England have adopted an attacking style of play in the traditional format which has led to increased conversation around Test cricket.

Both matches so far in India-England Test series, at Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam have seen a big number of fans in the stands.

“You just have to look at the crowds. The crowds are now starting to come back to Test cricket,” Botham told ‘SENQ 693’.

“Playing against India 20-30 years ago in India, the grounds were heaving. Suddenly, the IPL came along and so did one-day cricket and the crowds then plummeted. People are now coming back and wanting to see (Bazball).”

The former captain said England have won more Test matches than losing them after the introduction of ‘Bazball’.

“You are entertainers at the end of the day and if you want people to come to the games, you have to entertain. They don’t want to see someone score 1.2 runs per hour, you want to see guys just boss the game.

“You are going to lose one or two games here or there but England have played 15 and won 12. England sells out games across all five days now which was just unheard of.

“Test cricket is now healthier than it has been for a long time,” said Botham who took 383 wickets and scored 5200 runs from 102 Tests between 1977 and 1992.

Botham also suggested that other teams are also wanting to play like England.

“It’s rubbed off (onto other teams). Quite often, you see sides who are three or four wickets down and (the bowling team) seem to relax.

“When you’ve got your foot on the throat, you have got to keep it there and do the job. Test cricket has become more impressive which I think is important.” England are currently tied 1-1 in a five-match Test series in India. The third Test begins in Rajkot on February 15.

With PTI inputs