In a surprising departure from their trademark aggression, England ditched their Bazball approach in the third Test against India at Lord’s. It was a noticeable shift in rhythm, slower, more cautious, and uncharacteristically subdued. The usually relentless English side curbed its attacking instincts, opting instead for a more traditional brand of Test cricket. Even Indian batter and skipper Shubman Gill couldn’t resist taking a jab at the change in style, quipping through the stump mic, “Welcome back to boring Test cricket, boys.” The viral comment summed up a day where the buzz of England’s Bazball was curiously missing.

What Is Bazball in Cricket and Where Did It Come From?

To understand this shift, it’s vital to know what Bazball in cricket truly means. The term, inspired by England’s head coach Brendon “Baz” McCullum, symbolises a fearless, ultra-aggressive approach to Test cricket. Introduced in 2022 when McCullum took charge alongside captain Ben Stokes, England’s Bazball philosophy was all about rewriting the script, attacking relentlessly with bat and ball, taking bold risks, and always playing to win, no matter the situation.

This mindset saw England breaking away from traditional defensive templates. Batters were encouraged to score quickly, often striking at rates seen more commonly in limited-overs cricket. Captains declared early, set attacking fields, and even chased down targets above 300 with ease. The team’s revival was immediate; a four-match winning streak against New Zealand and India kickstarted the Bazball strategy era with a bang. What made Bazball in cricket stand out wasn’t just the results, but the attitude. It brought a swagger to red-ball cricket and got crowds excited about Test matches again. England went from being hesitant and inconsistent to fearless and entertaining. Suddenly, Test cricket had a new heartbeat, and its name was Bazball.

Where the Game Stands：England vs India 3rd Test, Lord’s

England were bowled out for 387 in 112.3 overs, riding on a superb century from Joe Root (104 off 199 balls), with notable contributions from Jamie Smith (51), Ollie Pope (44), and Brydon Carse (56). Jasprit Bumrah led the Indian attack with a brilliant 5-wicket haul, supported by Siraj (2 wickets) and Nitish Reddy (2 wickets), who made a game-changing impact early in the innings.

#MohammedSiraj turns up the spice at Lord’s! 🌶🔥

Joe Root was playing it safe… until Mohammed Siraj decided to knock on his mental front door with some classic banter! 🗣😏#ENGvIND 👉 3rd TEST, DAY 1 | LIVE NOW on JioHotstar ➡ https://t.co/H1YUOckUwK pic.twitter.com/6VeulnpzbT

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 10, 2025

India, in reply, have reached 145/3 in 43 overs at the end of Day 2. KL Rahul remains solid at the crease with 53 off 113*, while Rishabh Pant is giving him company on 19 off 33*. Earlier, Jaiswal (13), Shubman Gill (16), and Karun Nair (40) all got starts but couldn’t convert. England’s bowling looked disciplined, with Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes, and Chris Woakes picking up a wicket each. India trail by 242 runs, with seven wickets in hand, a crucial first hour on Day 3 awaits.

Why England Abandoned Bazball at Lord’s?

But at Lord’s, the engine of England’s Bazball sputtered. Despite winning the toss, Ben Stokes chose to bat first, a surprising decision given their usual tendency to chase under this Bazball strategy. It raised eyebrows immediately and hinted at a shift in mindset even before the first ball was bowled. What followed confirmed that suspicion. England’s top order, especially Joe Root and Ollie Pope, played with an intent to survive rather than dominate. Their usually brisk scoring was replaced with caution and conservatism. The fearless Bazball strategy seemed to be on pause.

This wasn’t only because of India’s sharp bowling, though Bumrah, Siraj, Akash Deep, and Nitish Reddy were relentless with their lines and lengths. More than pressure, it looked like a conscious recalibration. The scars from their Edgbaston defeat likely triggered this rethink.Head coach Brendon McCullum had admitted they “probably got it slightly wrong” back then. At Lord’s, the pitch had a green tinge and offered seam movement, making high-risk cricket more dangerous. England seemed to acknowledge that.

Instead, they opted for patience, which fans now call Blockball. In one phase after lunch, England played out 28 consecutive dot balls. If anything summed up the new approach, it was that: restraint over recklessness.

#ShubmanGill, with the most sarcastic sledge of the season kyunki ye seekhne nahi, sikhane aaye hain 😎

“Welcome to Boring Test Cricket.” 🫢💭

Who said Test matches aren’t spicy? 🔥#ENGvIND 👉 3rd TEST, DAY 1 | LIVE NOW on JioHotstar ➡ https://t.co/H1YUOckUwK pic.twitter.com/U7fEy4HXpR

— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 10, 2025

From Bazball to Blockball：Is the Shift Working for England?

So, has England’s strategic pivot from Bazball to Blockball delivered results? In parts, yes. Joe Root’s 104 off 199 balls was a throwback to classic Test batting, measured, composed, and devoid of any unorthodox shots. Ollie Pope, too, ground out 44 off 104 deliveries, showing admirable patience. This partnership steadied England’s innings after early wickets, helping build a solid 387-run total. Even Brydon Carse’s 56 and Jamie Smith’s 51 showed restraint rather than recklessness a notable shift from England’s usual freewheeling aggression.

Joe Root is swiftly climbing up the Test centurions ladder 👀#WTC27 #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/YFSE9WMptj

— ICC (@ICC) July 12, 2025

The bowling effort echoed this shift. Rather than searching for magic balls, England’s pacers stuck to basics. Jofra Archer bowled tight lines, Chris Woakes was economical, and Ben Stokes claimed the wicket of Karun Nair by simply applying pressure. However, it wasn’t particularly thrilling. Long stretches of dot balls, including a 28-ball dead zone post-lunch, took the fizz out of the game. Shubman Gill’s stump-mic sledge, “Welcome back to boring Test cricket”, summed up the mood.

Still, it’s hard to argue with results. England’s Bazball may have taken a breather, but Blockball has given them control and maybe, that’s exactly what they needed. The match is nicely poised as we head into the final day of this 3rd test match at the Lord’s Cricket Ground. India need 135 runs to win with 6 wickets to spare. A nail-biting finish awaits us!

Related Match

ENG vs IND 2025 3rd Test of the India tour of England series on 07/10 at 03:30 PM IST