Former Australia captain Michael Clarke has criticized Ben Duckett for crediting the aggressive batting in Test cricket to England’s Bazball approach. Clarke dismissed Duckett’s claim, emphasizing that the Australian team of the 1990s and 2000s already had a reputation for playing aggressive Test cricket.
During an interview at the end of day three of the Rajkot Test, Duckett praised Yashasvi Jaiswal for his attacking century and suggested that the current England team should receive credit for influencing teams to bat more aggressively in Tests. England eventually went on to lose the Test match by a record margin of 434 runs.
“Watching opponents perform in that manner makes it seem as if we [England] can take some acknowledgment for influencing their distinct approach to Test cricket. We observed glimpses of it during the summer, and it’s quite thrilling to witness other players and teams embracing that aggressive cricket style,” Duckett said.
However, Clarke shot down the English opener’s comments, reminding Duckett of the aggressive Test cricket played by the Australian team in the 90s and 2000s. On ESPN Australia’s Around The Wicket, Clarke stated that the Australian team had been playing aggressive Test cricket long before Duckett and England adopted their approach.
“He probably hasn’t witnessed Australia’s Test cricket for the past two decades. Being young, he might not be familiar with the style of play demonstrated by Australia. Is he aware of players like Matthew Hayden, Michael Slater, Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn, and Adam Gilchrist? These individuals were hitting the ball just as well as anyone,” Clarke said.
Clarke highlighted the aggressive batting style of Australian legends such as Matthew Hayden, Michael Slater, Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn, and Adam Gilchrist, emphasizing that they were known for their aggressive batting long before the modern era.
“Just executing a reverse sweep, switch hit, or ramp shot doesn’t necessarily define aggressive batting. Matthew Hayden, for instance, would simply advance down the wicket and smash the ball straight over the bowler’s head for a six. He didn’t rely on unorthodox shots like ramps or switch hits,” he added.
“I appreciate their style of play. I enjoy seeing aggressive and positive cricket in any format. Thanks to T20 cricket, we now witness diverse shots, and players are showcasing their skills across the entire 360 degrees in all three formats. It wasn’t as prevalent in Test cricket before,” he said.
Clarke also pointed out that the prevalence of different shots in the modern game is a result of T20 cricket but does not necessarily indicate increased aggression compared to teams of the past.
“When faced with a bouncer, 90 percent of the time, you’d witness a hook or a pull shot. Occasionally, about 10 percent of the time, someone might attempt to ramp it over slips. While you see different shots now, it doesn’t necessarily translate to increased aggression or positivity. I can recount numerous innings where I had the privilege of batting with cricket superstars. Once they reached 20, 30, or 40 runs, they could score at a rapid rate if they desired – 7, 10, 15 runs an over, whatever they wanted.”
“It was about constructing an innings to put the team in a favourable position. Identifying a bowler you felt comfortable against and taking the attack to them. Take, for example, Hayden’s aggressive and positive sweep shots against Harbhajan Singh in the 2001 Test series – genuine sweeps, not reverses,” he added.
While acknowledging England’s aggressive approach and its effectiveness, particularly in the Rajkot Test, Clarke emphasized that it is important to recognize that many teams and players have historically played aggressive and positive cricket in Test matches. He also praised England for adopting the Bazball approach but reiterated that they are not the first team to play aggressively in Test cricket.
“I appreciate England’s aggressive approach. It has proven effective, laying the groundwork for exceptional cricket. They’re achieving the desired results. Playing in India is challenging, if you just block, you’re bound to get one with your name on it. Attempt a reverse sweep, and you might end up hitting it straight to the backward point. That’s just the nature of the game,” he said.
“Realistically, as a batsman, your role is to score runs. Many great players and teams worldwide have scored plenty of runs against formidable opposition. England isn’t the first team to adopt an aggressive or positive batting style,” Clarke concluded.
Duckett was earlier criticized by former England captain Nasser Hussain for his comments on Yashasvi Jaiswal. The England team has been facing a lot of flak for their aggressive approach and many former cricketers have called for a change after losing two Tests on the trot in India.
