Hail Ben Stokes and Co.

Newsline Staffer

To the puritans of the game, Test cricket is the real deal. Every now and then, in the middle of the T20 razmataaz that has overshadowed the longest format, we get to see a thrilling duel that reinforces our belief in Test cricket.

On December 5 at Rawalpindi, England sealed a Test match that looked all set for a draw after the first two innings.

From the very first day of the test, England walked out with a lethal intent that has come to be known as Bazball after England coach Brendon McCullum who is fondly known as Baz. The Bazball is his brand of cricket – the dashing, forceful display of batting that he exhibited throughout his career across formats.

It didn’t come as a surprise when McCullum put Australian bowlers to sword scoring the fastest 54-ball Test hundred, making his swansong unforgettable. That is the intent and attitude that he has infused in this English side.

Before the start of the series, the England coach made his intent very clear saying the side would continue with the mantra of attacking cricket.

“We’ll be pushing for results. If we get outplayed, that is okay,” McCullum pronounced. With an enterprising Ben Stokes leading an aggressive, immensely talented side, McCullum wasn’t off the mark.

Even before the start of the series, stokes had won hearts after he proclaimed that he would donate his entire match fee of the series to the flood relief cause in Pakistan. And, as if that wasn’t enough, his bold declaration on Day 4 won him more hearts.