{"id":56117,"date":"2025-08-09T20:17:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-09T20:17:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/56117\/"},"modified":"2025-08-09T20:17:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T20:17:13","slug":"mitchell-johnson-bazball-is-just-a-50-50-gamble-and-will-not-work-over-five-tests-in-australian-conditions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/56117\/","title":{"rendered":"Mitchell Johnson: Bazball is just a 50\/50 gamble and will not work over five Tests in Australian conditions"},"content":{"rendered":"

At the start of this winter\u2019s England v India series, I\u2019ll admit I had some concerns. England looked like they might be a real handful come the Ashes this summer in Australia.<\/p>\n

Their aggressive \u2018Bazball\u2019 approach had been unsettling teams, and early signs suggested they were ready to keep the momentum rolling. Now, with the series ending in a 2-2 draw, and after reflecting on a mix of player comments and outside observations this week \u2014 particularly from a few former players \u2014 I\u2019m not so worried about the threat they pose. For me Bazball is England\u2019s only strength, and yet it is still a 50\/50 gamble.<\/p>\n

The drawn series result itself was telling. This was England in their own backyard, on pitches they know inside out – flat and bat last type decks – against an India side that\u2019s always tough but not unbeatable away from home.<\/p>\n

For Australia\u2019s players watching from afar, this would have been a confidence booster. It\u2019s not about underestimating the Poms \u2014 they\u2019ll still be up for a fight when they land here \u2014 but the cracks are visible and the call of 5-0 from Glenn McGrath is already out there. The mind games have already begun.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no denying England\u2019s batting strength on paper. Their aggressive scoring rates can put a side under enormous pressure if it clicks. But in Australia, pitches are different and that unpredictability in the Bazball method can turn against them. The Australian bowling line-up knows what they are doing. Playing that brand of cricket on a true, fast wicket where the ball gets big on you is a different challenge altogether.<\/p>\n

On flat decks or slow turners, Bazball\u2019s risk-taking can look fearless. As the ball flies through at Optus Stadium or against a pink ball at the Gabba, it can look reckless. And that\u2019s where Australia will back themselves \u2014 to make the conditions part of the contest.<\/p>\n

Both sides have strengths and weaknesses, but I\u2019m now more settled in my view of where the Ashes will head: Australia\u2019s way. And that\u2019s even with our own unsettled top three.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s not to say it\u2019ll be one-way traffic. England will come hard, and if they win key moments, they can turn the momentum quickly. But the blueprint to beat them is clearer now: make them bat in tough conditions, stick to your plans, and don\u2019t get sucked into playing their tempo.<\/p>\n

\"ShubmanCamera IconShubman Gill of India shakes hands with Ben Stokes of England after the end of the match. Credit: Gareth Copley\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Not winning at home raises eyebrows. Home conditions are supposed to be your safety net, your fortress. England had their chances in this series, but a combination of inconsistent batting under pressure and a bowling unit that looked less threatening without James Anderson and Stuart Broad left the door open.<\/p>\n

It also sends a message to Australia\u2019s bowlers that England\u2019s batting can be contained if you keep them in check early. The big question is whether Bazball is built to last over a long series, especially on away tours.<\/p>\n

Of course, Australia isn\u2019t without its own headaches. Our top three is still a work in progress, and while we\u2019ve got a few first-class players making the right moves, no one\u2019s cemented those spots yet. Sam Konstas being sent to India with the Australia A team is a good move, but as George Bailey rightly pointed out, it\u2019s no guarantee he\u2019ll feature in the Ashes summer.<\/p>\n

For me, Konstas needs time \u2014 proper time \u2014 in the middle. He needs to get seasoned at first-class level. It\u2019s easy to get excited about a talented young player, but nothing replaces the grind and experience of State cricket. There\u2019s no rush. If a player is good enough, their time will come.<\/p>\n

One name that should have everyone\u2019s attention is Lance Morris. He\u2019s eager to bowl fast \u2014 and not just in bursts, but consistently. That hunger is invaluable, and in Australian conditions, raw pace is a weapon you can\u2019t overvalue.<\/p>\n

\"ShubmanCamera IconShubman Gill of India celebrates after winning the fifth Test. Credit: Gareth Copley\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s the battle for the opening and No.3 slots. Nathan McSweeney and Jake Weatherald have both been making plenty of noise in the Australia A series against Sri Lanka A. Runs in those conditions on home turf matter, and for me, both should be genuine possibilities for the summer.<\/p>\n

For England, the India series was a test of their new approach\u2019s resilience, and the jury is still out. For Australia, it\u2019s a reminder that while England can dominate in patches, they\u2019re not invincible. The mental edge in Ashes cricket often starts months before the first ball is bowled, and I love it!<\/p>\n

The drawn England\u2013India series hasn\u2019t just been a result; it\u2019s been a preview of summer storylines. England\u2019s batting is their strength, but also their gamble. Australia\u2019s bowling depth and home conditions could turn that gamble against them.<\/p>\n

Our own top order remains unsettled, but there\u2019s talent pushing hard for selection, and the pace stocks are strong.<\/p>\n

\"MohammedCamera IconMohammed Siraj of India celebrates the match winning wicket of Gus Atkinson. Credit: Stu Forster\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

From a player\u2019s point of view, watching England fail to win at home doesn\u2019t make you complacent \u2014 it sharpens your focus. You see the gaps, you see where they can be got at, and that belief heading into an Ashes summer is priceless.<\/p>\n

But in the end, the talk doesn\u2019t get the wins as England have shown recently. Let the games begin.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"At the start of this winter\u2019s England v India series, I\u2019ll admit I had some concerns. England looked…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":56118,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[564],"tags":[64,63,740,588,85],"class_list":{"0":"post-56117","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-cricket","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-cricket","11":"tag-sport","12":"tag-sports"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56117","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=56117"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/56117\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/56118"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=56117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=56117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=56117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}