England Leaves Fans Stunned at Lord's as Ashwin Denounces 'PrankBall' Strategies

Ravichandran Ashwin used very strong words to condemn England's surprise strategy on Day 1 of the third Test match at Lord's against India. Fans and lovers of cricket were taken aback when Ben Stokes and his team totally flipped around their traditional approach to game play. Rather than following through on the aggressive BazBall approach that had been their trademark in recent years they entered a slower and more defensive frame of mind. Ashwin, who has played against countless different English teams over the years, described this new style as a total betrayal of what England had promised under BazBall. He even referred to it as 'PrankBall' due to the extent to which it was away from their traditional quick game.

Ashwin expressed his feelings in one of his YouTube videos where he discussed how bizarre it was to witness England managing a rate of just three runs per over when they normally score a lot quicker. As per Ashwin everybody had been waiting for fireworks from the English camp because that was their brand of cricket. What actually transpired in Day 1 left everyone perplexed and disappointed. It was a silent and careful England batting unit that could not be recognized as the same team that people had grown accustomed to since the past year. Ashwin felt that this change in strategy not only disappointed the fans but also muddled up the game plan that was yielding results for England of late.

Ashwin asserted that he was not faulting each aspect of England's performance. Indeed, he complimented Joe Root on the great innings he played while under pressure. Ashwin opined that Root's knock brought back the thought of what real Test cricket was all about. He described Root's batting as a lesson in patience and timing. He added that whenever the team required a solid performance Root provided exactly that. Ashwin has repeatedly mentioned how essential Joe Root's form is to England and this match reinforced him again. Root's peaceful demeanor behind the crease helped a great deal and his performance was outstanding on a day when the rest of the English team seemed hesitant.

Ashwin also likened the Lord's pitch to pitches typically encountered in the subcontinent. As per him the Day 1 surface had some features which are typically observed in Indian pitches. He highlighted the way the bounce and pace on the wicket appeared to alter abruptly. This was best seen when Ravindra Jadeja delivered a delivery that dipped low and gave Joe Root trouble. Ashwin mentioned that this kind of activity from the pitch was rather unusual for Lord's which is famous for its consistent bounce. He added that this makes it more critical for India to capitalize on such situations.

Ashwin's analysis of the pitch further included a more detailed analysis of how the pitch is likely to play over the next few days. He stated that the ball softens after around 60 overs which makes batting slightly easier but simultaneously the surface begins to misbehave. He explained that the deliveries may remain low or can suddenly rebound which can be testing even for the best batsmen. This unpredictable nature of the pitch is something that Indian bowlers must employ judiciously. Ashwin opines that the team has a golden opportunity to put pressure on England if they can knock them over early on Day 2.

He picked out the performance of young Indian bowler Nitish Reddy, who was able to take two wickets and even made Ben Stokes nervous at the crease. In Ashwin's view, that little moment revealed how England batters were under pressure to get used to the pitch. He stated that if India can put pressure early in the second day they may restrict England to a total of less than 350. That is the kind of target Ashwin feels India must target. He stated that if England bat for too long the pitch will begin playing with them and it may render batting unsafe in subsequent sessions.

Ashwin's words were not only about strategy but also about the manner in which the game is being played and perceived. He felt that England had begun something quite new with BazBall and a lot of fans began to enjoy this aggressive form of cricket. Therefore, when the team suddenly shifted their approach to a more defensive one it was a retrograde step. It raised questions in the minds of fans whether England would return to their aggressive fearless style or this more defensive style was the new order. Ashwin referred to it as a betrayal because everyone had begun to expect thrill from England each time they stepped onto the field.

This mind shift was something even former cricketers and supporters realized. They were shocked at Ben Stokes' fielding decisions by some and others argued that it could be a part of a master plan. Ashwin was adamant though in the assertion that this was not the England team the fans had become accustomed to. He asserted that the identity that they had constructed with BazBall was absent and whatever took its place did not meet the current expectations of Test cricket fans.

India, on the other hand, now has a definite job on hand. If they can attack early on Day 2 and dismiss England without allowing them to construct a huge total, they will have an excellent chance to dominate the match. Ashwin's observations provided a holistic picture of not only the technical aspect of the game but also the emotional and strategic one. He feels that England's approach of going slow has made a window of opportunity for India to return stronger.

With the Lord's Test still on, the limelight will continue on both sides. England must decide whether they return to BazBall or continue with their new safer approach. India must make the most of the pitch while it still has something to give the bowlers. With Jadeja and Nitish Reddy already making their presence felt and Ashwin also reading the game like few do the stage is being set for a thrilling contest. Whether or not fans receive BazBall or PrankBall in the coming days awaits to be seen but Ashwin's remarks have definitely given a new shade of drama to the match.