Brendon’s 158
It was the year 2008, the first game of the inaugural IPL Season played out at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. The Kolkata Knight Riders were pitted against the Royal Challengers Bangalore. It was expected to be Saurav Ganguly vs Rahul Dravid affair. However there was one player who grabbed the spotlight, who scripted history that day and showed the world what Cricket meant to him. The belligerent New Zealander Brendon McCullum playing for Kolkata Knight Riders smashed an enormous 158, simply decimating the RCB Bowlers, smashing them to all parts of the ground. He just lit up the IPL.
Fearless Bazz
As Bazz ( Brendon McCullum’s nick name )progressed in his career he became an extremely effective player brandishing a fearless form of Cricket in all its forms. He captained New Zealand and developed them into a formidable force. The performance in the 2015 World Cup being proof enough. Though New Zealand were runners up, the ascent of the Team was well and truly established. As McCullum retired and graduated into a Coach he tried to push his brand of cricket in all the teams he helmed, but the actual transgression to the form of cricket he had envisaged took shape when he was appointed as Coach of the English Test Team.
Aggressive England with Bazz & Ben
Bazz & Ben : pic courtesy The Cricketer
With Ben Stokes as Captain, Bazz had the perfect foil with him. Both having similar characteristics. Positivity and aggression being their forte always. The chemistry between the two gave way to some unbelievable and spectacular display of cricket in the ongoing Test Series between England and Pakistan. The play on the first day of the first Test match at Rawalpindi was some treat never seen before. England smashed more than 500 runs of just 75 overs, scoring at almost 7 runs an over. Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Olllie Pope and Harry Brook scoring hundreds.
England Seal Series
The Pakistani bowling attack was virtually pulverised. The batting was fearless and unhindered. The aggression was calculative and never reckless. It was some special brand of cricket espoused by the machinations of Brendon McCullum, never seen before. The cricket fraternity was astounded. What had Bazz brought about. The no holds barred attacking cricket was not seen only in Batting, but was visible in Bowling too. On flat placid pitches, the English fast bowlers lead by their battled hardened old warhorse Jimmy Anderson and the spinners, ensured that Pakistan never got away and eventually won the match with some belligerent bowling too.
BAZZBALL is here to Stay
The story of the second test too was no different. Pakistan were close to victory, but England attacked with their bowlers searching for wickets all the time. They produced a few gems and wrapped up the match and series. England’s fearless, aggressive, belligerent, defiant and extremely entertaining style of cricket has been named ‘ BAZZBALL ‘ and is the new toast of Cricket. In all certainty, the sport is on the road to Bazzball and sooner than later it would be the way Cricket is going to be played. The Gentleman’s game may soon be a thing of the past.
Super Ishan : Pic courtesy DNA India
Brlliant Ishan – The Bazzball Way
Not very far away from the English exploits, Ishan Kishan the talented southpaw, was plundering the Bangladeshi bowlers in the 3rd ODI between India and Bangladesh. India had lost the two earlier matches in very close encounters and had surrendered the series. Ishan Kishan got his opportunity due to Rohit Sharma’s injury and he grabbed it with glee. It was Bazzball on show from Ishan Kishan as he took the bowlers to the cleaners. With 24 fours and 10 sixes, Ishan struck a mammoth 210 of just 131 balls and India amassed an unassailable 409 in 50 overs, winning the contest hands down. It was not slogging, but crisp hitting from Ishan, the Bazzball way. It was pure entertainment.
The Future of Cricket is going the Bazzball way. So lets fasten our seat belts and be ready for a breathtaking ride.
Kudos Bazz.
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Featured Image : Brendon McCullum : courtesy Sky Sports