England Test coach Brendon McCullum has responded to Australian star Steve Smith’s recent comments.
England’s record-breaking run chase to beat India in the fifth Test at Edgbaston put an exclamation on what has been a scintillating start to life under McCullum, which included a clean sweep over his native New Zealand.
There is plenty of positivity surrounding McCullum’s English outfit, but Smith provided a type of reality check by suggesting it will be a different proposition when they play the Aussies is next year’s Ashes.
Smith was asked about ‘Bazball’, the term coined to describe the way England plays, and suggested even Australian coach Andrew McDonald is sick of hearing about it.
“It’s been exciting, I’m just intrigued to see how long it lasts, if it’s sustainable,” Smith said via the Sydney Morning Herald.
“Guys just keep joking about it – I think ‘Ronnie’ (McDonald) has had enough of hearing about Bazball to be honest, it’s good fun to joke about.
“If you come on a wicket that’s got some grass on it and Josh Hazlewood, (Pat) Cummins and (Mitchell) Starc are rolling in at you, is it going to be the same?
“We’ll see what happens.”
In response, McCullum acknowledged the Australian side will present an enormous challenge.
But he did describe ‘Bazball’ as a “silly” term as it takes away from the considered nature in which his England side goes about its business.
“I saw those (comments) flick up on one of the feeds somewhere,” McCullum told Adam Gilchrist on SEN WA Breakfast.
“It’s quite right, it is going to be a big challenge when we take on Australia. It’s going to challenge our method and it’s going to challenge what we’re capable of achieving and that’s pretty exciting I reckon.
“Isn’t that what the game’s all about? Is to sort of reinvigorate yourself and then be confronted against the very best.
“I do believe that both New Zealand and India are two very, very good cricket sides as well.
“Australia is a different kind of challenge because of the history of the Ashes and the rivalry which exists there.
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“I’m sure that our guys will try and still maintain a really positive approach. I think the real key is not just the crash and burn if we look at the approach of how the guys have done it.
“That’s why I don’t really like that silly term that people are throwing out there, because there’s actually quite a bit of thought that goes into how the guys manufacture their performances and when they put pressure on bowlers and which bowlers they put pressure on. There’s also times where they’ve absorbed pressure beautifully as well.”
Regarding the 2023 Ashes which will take place in England in the middle of next year, McCullum insists he is not looking too far ahead.
His main philosophy is to live in the moment, but that doesn’t mean he is not keeping an eye on the tantalising home series against the Aussies who took the Ashes in a canter 4-0 last summer.
“It’s one that’s on the calendar for everyone,” he said.
“We know that’s probably the ultimate challenge for us.
“We’ll deal with that in time I guess. In this job you plan as if you’ll live forever and live as if you’ll die tomorrow.
“You want to make sure you enjoy the ride. I keep preaching to the boys about being where your feet are and to try to immerse yourself in the here and now.
“You take your eye off anything and teams will be able to make sure you look a bit silly.
“Our focus will be on South Africa for now but at some point in time, that will be a series which we (focus on).
“Test cricket needs the Ashes to be strong and competitive. You’d say the last one wasn’t so that’s the task for us in time.
“Give us a few months to be able to get our things together and we might be able to take on the great Australian side.”
England will now focus on the upcoming three-match Test series against South Africa on home soil in August.