The bazball approach of England in Test cricket once again took the cricketing world by storm as the English team put up a brilliant batting show against Australia in the first Ashes 2023 Test and declared their first innings on a score of 393/8 on Day 1 itself.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, England got off to a great start, with Zak Crawley scoring impressive 61 runs off 73 balls. However, Crawly missed to convert the half-century into a big score and was soon dismissed by Scott Boland. The pair of Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow then ensured that England finished on a competitive score. While Bairstow added 78 runs, Root went on to register his 30th Test ton and remained unbeaten on 118 off 152 balls, with the hosts declaring their innings on 393/8.
It is worth mentioning that Root smashed as many as eleven boundaries comprising four sixes during his knock, and one of those maximums came off an unconventional reverse scoop by the former England captain that left everyone awestruck.
It all happened on the fifth ball of the 53rd over when Boland delivered a fuller outside off-ball to Root, and he quickly brought out the audacious reverse scoop to send the red leather over the fence. Many popular personalities widely appreciated the shot by the right-handed batter, and they even termed it the effect of the Bazball era.
Anyone know what Rooty had for tea? 🤔
He RAMPS Scott Boland for six! 🔥
We'll have what he's having! 😉 #EnglandCricket | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/ajXQi3biYK
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 16, 2023
Apart from Root’s exploit and his unorthodox shot, what attracted the praise from cricket enthusiasts was England’s bazball mode of play and their declaration of innings on Day 1 itself. Many reacted to the English team’s dominating batting display by saying, “Bazball era has begun.”
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
393-8 d… Am I reading this right… Wow… Just wow… Witnessing a new era of Cricket… Bazball 🔥🔥🔥#ENGvsAUS #Ashes2023
— Mahesh Babu (@urstrulyMahesh) June 16, 2023
This reverse scoop six that Joe Root hit off Scot Boland is a mirror to how well England and their players have eliminated fear of failure from their kit bag.
Teams will struggle to catch up with them so long as they aren’t prepared to risk losing when wanting to win #Ashes23…— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) June 16, 2023
Joe Root has hit 2 reverse scoop sixes today off 85 mph seam bowlers … !! He is an incredible player … btw … what a first day this has been … entertainment of the highest order … #Ashes #OnOn
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) June 16, 2023
393 exhilarating runs on the 1st day of an Ashes series & @benstokes38 declares to have a go at the Aussies tonight. This is why I absolutely love love LOVE Bazball. So exciting, so daring, so unpredictable, so brilliant to watch.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) June 16, 2023
In less than 3 yrs Joe Root has got 13 Test tons with close 3500 runs. Could’ve converted some of those 9 half centuries into 100s, but decided to stick to the bazball approach adopted by his team. Not to forget the 25 wkts during that period. #Ashes2023 @root66
— Rahul Rawat (@rawatrahul9) June 16, 2023
England team's standing ovation and appreciating, clapping for Joe Root and his brilliant 30th Test Hundred.
What a player – Take a bow, Joe Root. pic.twitter.com/iFai7zG2DM
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) June 16, 2023
30TH TEST CENTURY FOR JOE ROOT…!!
What a knock by Root, a sublime innings. He's been unstoppable in the last 30 months. Another exceptional hundred. pic.twitter.com/fNMB25bP2S
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 16, 2023
Anyone know what Rooty had for tea? 🤔
He RAMPS Scott Boland for six! 🔥
We'll have what he's having 😊
Bazball Era ! 😉 #EnglandCricket | #Ashes23 | #Ashes2023 #Root #Starc #Boland #Bazball #ENGvsAUS pic.twitter.com/8pqmt84aMu— Ritwik Ghosh (@gritwik98) June 16, 2023
JOE ROOT REVERSE SCOOP >>>>>3@root66 #JoeRoot #Ashes2023 pic.twitter.com/kkabNeZPNT
— EJAZ BUTT (STAN BA56) (@_Ejaz_butt) June 16, 2023
Root's reverse-scoop for Six!
England are never too far away from an audacious shot in this Bazball era!!#ENGvAUS #Ashes2023pic.twitter.com/v4MbfOGeRE
— Anunay (@Anunay_Aanand) June 16, 2023