Every Test reverse since Brendon McCullum took over more than two years ago has been depicted as a fatal blow to the Bazball concept, providing fodder to the segment of England supporters who are eager for the entire experiment to collapse.
To be sure, England are not the completed product, but they are a far better team than they were under McCullum (granted, they could have placed Mr Blobby in charge and done better than one win in 17). It’s easy to believe in their strategies while also being dissatisfied, frustrated, or even furious when they fail to live up to your expectations.
Even though it was easily their poorest performance, England’s eight-wicket battering at the hands of Sri Lanka is not their most agonizing defeat under McCullum (I’m looking at you, Lord’s Ashes Test of 2023).
It is quite impossible to forgive England’s defeat in less than three full days of cricket, considering the opponents, the precarious positions they found themselves in, and the possibility of a unique 100% home summer.
Even though it is difficult to know for sure what is happening behind closed doors, accusations of complacency and arrogance are strong. However, England has certainly been exceedingly negligent.
