22 June 2023 , 08:49
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England legend Ian Bell has claimed Australia are "scared" of 'Bazball' and is confident they will bounce back from defeat at Edgbaston ready for the second Test at Lord's.
Australia may have won a thrilling Ashes opener by just two wickets, but Bell believes England's new positive and aggressive brand of cricket "unnerved Australia" and that they "only played in England's style when they knew they were beaten and they had nothing to lose".
The 41-year-old, who helped England win five Ashes series in his playing career, fells Australia "have more to work on" heading into the second Test and criticised them for being "passive" with both bat and ball on days one and two.
"It may sound strange given the scoreline but I believe England are inside the heads of the Aussies," Bell told Betfair. "I wouldn't be the least bit surprised to see Ben Stokes' team to come from behind and win the series.
"It was a great result for them, but I'd go as far to say that Australia have more to work on. After the first two days at Edgbaston I was amazed how passive Australia were. It was like England used to play Ashes series in the really bad old days.
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"Australia looked scared. I saw that in two examples. First, in the field setting for England's batters in the first innings. They had sweepers out on the off- and on-side after three overs.
"I'd never seen anything like it and as someone who has experienced the pressure cooker of an Ashes series – I won five out of seven – being afforded an easy option for a single as a batter like that would have been unheard of.
Ian Bell has claimed Australia are "scared" of 'Bazball' (Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images)"It was also interesting how nervous Steve Smith was. Why didn't he launch himself at Harry Brook? Why did he barely play a stroke in anger? As I said, I think England's intent has unnerved Australia and the only time they showed any aggression themselves was when Alex Carey was out in that extraordinary final innings.
"Basically, they only played in England’s style when they knew they were beaten and they had nothing to lose. Psychologically that is fascinating. Brendon McCullum will pick up on that."
Geoffrey Boycott, however, warned that England are "going to defeat themselves" if they continue the way they did at Edgbaston. In his latest column for the Telegraph, Boycott said: "England have got carried away with Bazball and seem to think entertaining is more important than winning.
Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum have pioneered England's new 'Bazball' approach (Philip Brown/Getty Images)"But England supporters want one thing more than anything else – to win the Ashes. Scoring fast runs, whacking lots of fours and sixes is lovely. It is great. But only if England do not lose sight of the big prize which is to beat Australia.
"If at the end of the series Australia go home with the Ashes we will feel sick, regardless of how much we have been entertained. They are in danger of letting hubris be their downfall or, quoting William Shakespeare in Hamlet, being hoist by one's own petard. They are going to defeat themselves.
"It would be sad if playing exciting cricket for a year is going to their heads. By all means entertain but cricket is like chess. There are moments when you need to defend. Sometimes you need to be patient and accept it. Do not just attack, attack, attack. England need a bit of common sense and pragmatism."