The Ashes 2023: Australia need to use some Bazball tactics to win series - Glenn McGrath

Ever since the first ball was played in Manchester, Australia adopted a cautious mindset, focused on not losing the crucial fourth Test. They were well aware of the predicted rain over the last two days, leading them to adopt a survival mode rather than an attacking and dominating approach.

While this tactic was not typical of the usual Australian style, it cannot be labeled as ‘Un-Australian’ since it proved effective for this successful Test team. Their primary goal was to retain the Ashes when they arrived, and they have achieved this with a 2-1 lead and one match remaining.

However, looking ahead to the next task of winning a series in England for the first time since 2001, there is hope for a different mindset at The Oval from Thursday. England, on the other hand, dominated this recent match, showcasing their ‘Bazball’ style at its best. Yet, some decisions, such as Ben Stokes’ choice not to declare earlier on day three, may have cost them victory.

England can be considered unlucky due to the rain, but they had opportunities to alter the course of the match, including declaring at lunch to give themselves a chance to bowl Australia out. The focus on reenergizing the longest format is important, but there are concerns that England might be using it as a tactic to deflect pressure from themselves.

Despite these considerations, England’s performance in this Test will be remembered for Zak Crawley’s impressive 189. As for Australia, there is a hope that they will learn from England’s style of play and be more aggressive in the upcoming matches. Winning the series in England would be a significant achievement and a response to the ‘Bazball’ style.

The pressure will be on Australia’s captain, Pat Cummins, whose true test of captaincy will come at The Oval. While Australia’s ploy of setting the field back has worked to some extent, now that they have retained the Ashes, there is a desire to see them play with more freedom and without fear.

The series has been tightly contested, with the first three Tests being highly competitive. England could have been in a better position had they been smarter and not dropped crucial catches. However, the conditions and tosses have also favored them at times.

Looking forward, Australia needs to give their all and go all out to win the Ashes. Winning in England would be a tremendous achievement, and it is time for them to abandon any reservations and play their best.