Bazball: The Inside Story of a Test Cricket Revolution

by Lawrence Booth, Nick Hoult

The inside story of how England transformed the way Test cricket is played.

After one win in 17 by the start of the summer of 2022, England needed something new. For 145 years, Test cricket was played mainly in one batters laid a foundation before daring to attack – and, even then, only if circumstances were favourable. Bowlers tried to bowl maidens, calculating that they would eventually force an error. But the old ways weren't working. Then came 'Bazball', driven by new head coach in Brendon ('Baz') McCullum and captain Ben Stokes. What followed was one of the most thrilling revolutions in any sport, as a rudderless and ridiculed England Test team became – almost overnight – cricket's most talked-about phenomenon. They embarked on a brand of Test cricket that breathed life into an ailing format, breaking records as they went on to win 11 out 13 Tests before taking on world champions Australia in a dramatic Ashes contest that ended 2–2.

Lawrence Booth and Nick Hoult, two of the game's most respected writers, had a ringside seat for all the action. Their book will reveal how Bazball swept the England dressing room and transformed the team's fortunes. Told via a mixture of interviews with the protagonists and insights gathered by the authors during their own close-up reporting, Bazball is an unmissable read. As Rob Key said after he appointed 'Buckle up and get ready for the ride.'

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, History

357 pages, Hardcover

First published October 26, 2023

Reviews

[Rory Swann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was always going to enjoy this one as I’ve got serious cricket fever this summer. Parts of this book did feel like a series of match reports and transcribed interviews, however there are definitely some interesting insights into the coaching and management style that turned our test team around.

[William Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A totally biased rating, but a deep-dive into the details about my team’s remarkable U-turn was always going to be enjoyable. The interviews with the lesser-spoken cogs of the team, I thought, were most interesting. Now it’s just a case of getting my Australian father to read it…

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

look at the new style of playing test cricket called bazball interesting in parts and incorporates the last ashes series too , insights from players and journalists

[Josh · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit disappointing. Mostly a series of match reports and transcribed press conferences. I was hoping for a bit of analysis of what Bazball is and where it’s come from (other than from Brendon McCullum’s ‘pretty laid-back outlook on life’)

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it. As much a book about people management as about cricket. Very nicely written & clear in its structure.

[Richard Hayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are two schools of thought. One holds that the Stokes/McCullum reinvention of English Test cricket is fake news snake oil posturing as emperor’s new clothes, while the other claims it has totally reinvigorated the game and could yet change the way it is played globally. Whichever of these you believe will directly impact your enjoyment of Bazball.

Lawrence Booth and Nick Hoult, leading UK cricket journalists, have not written a balanced analysis of the two ideas. Nor have they tried to. As far as they are concerned, Bazball is real and they have the facts, data and interviews to back it up. And for a cricket lover with an interest in strategic development and management psychology, this is a fascinating insight with deep reach into the England squad (albeit with only limited interaction with head coach Brendon McCullum, regrettably, which is in keeping with his withdrawn style).

Charting the team’s decline in the late stages of Joe Root’s captaincy through to this year’s exhilarating Ashes, taking in the whole of Ben Stokes’s incredible run of 13 wins in 17 Tests, Bazball is a cricket lover’s dream. It is loaded with direct interviews with the participants, cheeky backstage anecdotes, and as many statistics you could possibly want (and there are plenty about broken records here).

Bazball is a wonderful recent history of the revitalisation of English test cricket, all told in a lively authoritative voice from two of the best writers the game has to offer.

(Proof copy supplied. Opinions my own.)

[Simon Dane · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good summary of the Stokes/McCullum cricketing revolution although I probably didn’t learn anything that I didn’t already know.

[Jerry Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cricket is the greatest game. I have lived in the US for nearly 20 years and I have a soft spot for Baseball, which is the nearest equivalent in America, but it can't hold a candle to cricket. And whilst I enjoy every form of this sublime sport, it is Test match cricket that is, and always will be, the pinnacle for me. It is the ultimate examination of the skills of the players and isn't beholden to clocks, timings, time outs and all the other vulgar intrusions into the game that so beset US sport in particular.

So having said that, I am obviously predisposed to enjoying a book such as this and I wasn't disappointed. Cricket has been the backdrop to much of my life. I grew up in the era of the indomitable West Indies sides of the 70s and 80s when England struggled through 6 Test match summers against them, and fought out some memorable Ashes series with Australia, often coming second best to the old enemy. I have spent many, many hours with my best friend discussing the game in general and the fortunes of England (and Kent CCC) in particular, and continue to do so to this day.

This book charts the English approach to red ball cricket from the end of the Joe Root captaincy, where England were, frankly, moribund, to present day. This charts the reign of Brendan Macullum and Ben Stokes as their somewhat revolutionary approach to the way England play the game, and by extension, how Test cricket is played. Typically, since the English approach has always been hampered by conservatism and low risk, there was resistance from the establishment, and other teams to be fair, to what has come to be known as the titular "Bazball". It is an approach to the game much more strategic that is commonly thought to be the case. Often times it is characterized as bringing Test cricket in line with the white ball game, especially T20, but this sells it short.

Clearly there are cricketers, brought up on the shorter versions of the game and the aggression and hitting that come with that. They are making their way into Test cricket now, as are some of their shots and their somewhat cavalier approach. However, that is not the whole story and the nature of Bazball is laid out here within the context of the pulsating 2023 Ashes series. This structure works very well. The 5 tests of the summer are covered in summary, but interwoven with the overall development of the England game, the players, the strategies, the people-management issues etc and it works really well.

Of course, this is not a book that will change the world, but it is a wonderful, and well written narrative of Bazball to date and I loved it. As a fan of test cricket over the white ball game, one might expect me to be more of a traditionalist, tut-tutting from the metaphorical pavilion about the decline of the game at the highest level and the loss of something from a golden age of cricket. However, I love the Bazball approach with its aim to entertain, to go for the win and not try to avoid the loss, to have contempt for the draw, to pick a strategy and stick with that and the players that can deliver it and even though England fell to India last winter on the subcontinent, it was done sticking to the plan and was greatly entertaining. I love it and this book was a joy to read as a result.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

High three stars.

As a Kiwi cricket fan with great memories of McCullum’s playing days - in particular the 2015 World Cup run where the team played with the Bazball philosophy before it had a catchy name - I was keen to read this one. I particularly enjoyed the great insight for cricket nerds from the players about their shifts in mentality - whether the more attacking style came naturally or took some time to adjust to.

The closing chapters which shared viewpoints of other cricketing nations - for or against - were also interesting, and the sportsbiz / test cricket as an endangered species section was also good, presenting facts and fixtures on the place of tests in the cricketing ecosystem, especially when viewed against revenue making T20s.

I had not long ago read a book dedicated to the 2023 Ashes, so sometimes my eyes glazed over the play-by-play chapters scattered throughout, but only because of that reason.

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy the book, especially the early part with the history of Baz himself. Though there was coverage of the recent history of England Test Matches which at time was pretty terrible until Baz and Stokes came and the important role played by Rob Key. The skills and kindness shown by Stokes both with individuals and the team puts him in a very positive light.
A fair amount of the book was around the last Ashes tour and to be honest some of it became a bit repetitive, though I know this was also influenced having read Stuart Broads book. Overall though it was quite a good book!

[Gwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, in depth analysis of the first 18 months of the Bazball era. My only gripe (as with my last two cricket books, Anderson and Broad’s autobiographies) - why can’t anyone write a cricket book in a linear way, instead of jumping back and forth all the time?! Is it just me that wants to read about what happened in the order it happened?!

[JasonDeen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cricket is an interesting game with clear rules. But this is not enough for those who would like to make predictions and guess the winners of the season. I recommend this book to all those fans who plan to earn money on forecasts. There are many nuances revealed there. I can also give advice on the bookmaker - https://1xbet.co.ke/ This is the perfect place to practice your skills.

[Sanchit Agarwal · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an extremely painful read, more so as England received a beating in India after this book was written. This book is part rant and part recollection of certain games. Had to skim through the second half.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the sections in the book on the genisis of Bazball - inspirational. Bazball has revolutionised English test cricket and energised world test cricket. The sections on the 2023 Ashes series were not as interesting.

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, nice balance between story telling of the test and lots of nice insider info. Great read.

[Tom Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really enjoyable look back at the most exciting transformation in English sport. 8/10

[Harry Cobbett · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

Enjoyed getting the insights and analysis of every player who has played under this regime. Long may it continue.

[Alex White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ben Stokes, my hero!

[Humair Arshad · Rating 4 out of 5]

An extremely good look at the origins of bazball and the present and future of it.

[Heather Stanton]

DNF

[Stephen Hearn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious

[Gabriel Glencross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally, an enjoyable sports book!
140 pages in the last 3 days, Baz would be proud of that rate

[Sam Boylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Changing the game

[George Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slightly dismissive of anybody with criticisms of Bazball, and completely disappointingly skates over the Anderson retirement, but interesting enough

[Colin Veitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple exploration into a cricketing phenomena, based around the 2023 Ashes and focusing on the key players. I enjoyed the writing and the structure of the book and the way it revealed that the philosophy is about creating an environment where players can perform. A good quick read.