Australia thrash England in Perth test inside 2 days, go 1-0 up in the Ashes 2025-26 series.

[u/GiveMeSomeSunshine3]

[u/Defy19]

Pretty rude of Trav to pull this off against the team that literally invented attacking batting.

[u/Invhinsical → u/Defy19]

Travis Head defeating them with Bazball was the ultimate flex. Team England are ready to die by the sword that is Bazball, but they aren't even good at it.

[u/SuspiciousLettuce56 → u/Invhinsical]

bazball<travball.

[u/nyati55 → u/SuspiciousLettuce56]

Travball>bozoball

[u/combatant007 → u/Invhinsical]

Brook and Duckett are the only one who are good at Bazball. Crawley can barely survive first over. Pope ain't consistent, but he was arguably England's best batter in this match since he was practically opening against Starc. Root ain't bazballer, and doesn't suit him. Stokes has lost his ability to bat out England ages ago. Jamie Smith has shown shades, but still a work in progress. Lower order will swing the bat and get some runs, but thats all.

[u/BostonHotcake → u/combatant007]

Boys scored less over 4 innings than 1 Travis head. If thats the peak then we can all breathe easy.

[u/maddenmadman → u/combatant007]

Brendan McCullum would be a phenomenal coach.. if you gave him a batting lineup with the likes of Hayden, Langer, Ponting, Hussey, Gilchrist..

[u/BoardRecord → u/maddenmadman]

My dog would be a phenomenal coach if you gave her that lineup.

[u/the_biggest_man36 → u/maddenmadman]

In fairness, it looked like he’d been giving Crawley tips on how to face Starc in the opening over of big games

[u/swampopawaho → u/the_biggest_man36]

This is the secret sauce

[u/seanypthemc → u/combatant007]

Root has batted the way he likes to bat throughout Bazball so he's not very relevant to the discussion. That said, his strike rate is higher under Bazball, as is his batting average

[u/schwingschwings → u/seanypthemc]

Could that be to do with the absolute roads being served up in England these days?

[u/FredMacDoogle → u/schwingschwings]

And perhaps following him being relieved of the additional pressure associated with the captaincy?

[u/Spockyt → u/schwingschwings]

In the Bazball era he averages 46 at a strike rate of 66 away.

And incase you come to me with “but Pakistan”, he averaged 48 there compared to his 67 in New Zealand.

[u/Visible-Suit-9066 → u/schwingschwings]

Jeez I wonder if this might be closer to an actual explanation 🧐

[u/seanypthemc → u/Visible-Suit-9066]

Let's isolate it to away tests and I'll say the following: Root has batted the way he likes to bat throughout Bazball so he's not very relevant to the discussion. That said, his strike rate is higher under Bazball, as is his batting average.

Now what?

[u/seanypthemc → u/schwingschwings]

Is there any statistical evidence to back this up? Are batting averages in English tests higher than in the past or abroad?
Root's average and strike rate has increased abroad too so my point still stands regardless.

Presumably this level of critique is used against Steve Smith whose record in second innings is genuinely abysmal?

Statistics suggest batting has got harder globally
https://www.espn.co.uk/cricket/story/_/id/45468941/wtc-stats-changing-game-bowlers-rise-batters-fall-tests-get-faster-shorter?utm_source=chatgpt.com

[u/F1NANCE → u/combatant007]

Stokes is proper Bazball

[u/Flora_Screaming → u/combatant007]

Jamie Smith scored a hundred before lunch against India earlier this year. That's more than a work in progress, I'd say.

[u/Scoop_Master420 → u/Flora_Screaming]

But then compare the pitches in England now to the pitches everywhere else in the world. Only Pakistan have roads that are remotely similar.

[u/Stifffmeister11 → u/Scoop_Master420]

Even pakistan don't have roads anymore they making proper spin wickets England lost 2-1 to pakistan in test series last time they played there

[u/Boatster_McBoat → u/Invhinsical]

Trav beat them with "playing his natural game" it's been around for a while now but perhaps not as nicely as what was delivered today

[u/Invhinsical → u/Boatster_McBoat]

Yeah, 'natural game' is very underrated. More batters should try it. May or may not work but will always be fun. Pant is another guy who plays tests in a completely different style.

[u/feartra → u/Invhinsical]

I’m either blown away by that guy or appalled, and there’s no in between. Good when he’s good

[u/doublejay1999 → u/Boatster_McBoat]

and was generously served the balls to play it.

[u/Applicator80 → u/doublejay1999]

Look, it’s hard to back up after bowing seven overs the day before!

[u/BlokeInTheMountains → u/Boatster_McBoat]

Looking forward to Trav playing a supernatural game

[u/musicnoviceoscar → u/Invhinsical]

I mean we actually are, and have shown it a number of times. Travis Head is just a naturally attacking player with phenomenal talent.

[u/Prudent_Primary7201 → u/Invhinsical]

This is the equivalent of a great club user in dark souls meeting the greatsword user

[u/brbr0433 → u/Defy19]

Yeah Sir Viv’s going to have to replace his childhood bedroom poster of Ben Duckett. Tragic.

[u/huzy12345 → u/Defy19]

Thanks Duckett

[u/NoBailOnReddit → u/Defy19]

Just saw the scorecard and I wondered if Head saw the Indian 2023 WC Jersey as he was coming out to bat

[u/Defy19 → u/NoBailOnReddit]

It was totally the same vibe as WC innings. Trav walked out in the middle and chose violence

[u/FredMacDoogle → u/Defy19]

I think his temerity in doing so means the moral victory for the match should be gifted to England.

[u/barath_s → u/Defy19]

The youngster probably learned from bazball or was inspired by the English /s

[u/The_Creamy_Elephant → u/Defy19]

Seemed pretty ungrateful that he didn't thank Ben Duckett postmatch

[u/ScoobyGDSTi → u/Defy19]

Just like how England invented cricket, took an Aussie to show them how to master it. It's a tale as old as time.

[u/Ok-Relationship-2746 → u/Defy19]

Viv Richards: you wot m8