Bazbowl finally gives England a win. Test 4 Day 2 review!

Tom Gallop and Moises Henriques review a "weird" and lightning-fast Boxing Day Test that saw England secure their first Test win in Australia in 15 years, concluding the match in just over five sessions.

The "Shield-ified" MCG Wicket

The primary talking point is the MCG pitch, which Henriques argues has become a "raging green seamer" over the last few years, mirroring the conditions found in Sheffield Shield cricket. He notes that the balance has swung too far in favour of bowlers, making it nearly impossible for opening batters to maintain high averages. Henriques suggests that the "tennis-ball" bounce of Day 1 turned into a faster, more lethal surface on Day 2, filled with divots that acted like off-cutters.

The "Bazball" Solution to Spicy Wickets

Henriques offers the controversial view that the more a wicket favours the bowler, the more aggressive a batter must be. He defends the intent shown by players like Harry Brook, arguing that when a ball "has your name on it," survival-based batting is a losing strategy. He believes putting pressure back on the bowlers to force them off their lengths is the only way to succeed in such conditions.

Cameron Green's Crossroads

The hosts discuss the struggles of Cameron Green, particularly his dismissal where he ran at the bowler only to guide it to second slip. Henriques observes that Green doesn't look like the same "once-in-a-generation" talent who dominated Shield cricket a few years ago. While he still backs Green's potential, he admits that players like Beau Webster are knocking on the door, and Green's temperament currently looks unsettled by the conditions.

England's Tactical Pivot

A major factor in England's victory was their decision to abandon the bouncer-heavy plan and pitch the ball up. Henriques gives special praise to Josh Tongue, whose high arm action and ability to move the ball away from the right-hander made him a nightmare for Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne. The hosts argue that if England had utilised this more traditional approach — and bowlers like Tongue — from the start of the series, the scoreline might look very different.

The Cult of Stokes and McCullum

Despite the series being lost 3-1, the hosts admire the culture Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum have built. Henriques expresses a desire to have played under such a "positive" and "unthinking" regime, which removes self-doubt from players. However, Gallop notes that the England backroom staff "stuffed up" the year leading into the tour by failing to prepare for varying Australian conditions, likening it to a student studying for only two questions on a 20-question exam.

A Grade Cricket Pace

The hosts mock the incredibly slow over rates, noting that despite 36 wickets falling in roughly five sessions, the days only saw about 75 overs bowled. They joke that the Test players got a taste of "grade cricket" life, where outright wins are hard to come by — but noted that club cricketers at least have to hustle through 96 overs a day.

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