Brendon McCullum: England Confident in ‘Bazball’ Approach for the Ashes. England head coach Brendon McCullum expressed his team’s unwavering commitment to their high-risk, high-reward ‘Bazball’ approach as they prepare for the upcoming Ashes series against Australia. Despite suffering a 4-0 defeat in the previous Ashes edition in Australia, England has experienced tremendous success under McCullum’s leadership, winning 10 out of their last 12 tests since Ben Stokes assumed the captaincy.

“We may not know the outcome of this summer’s Ashes, but we will enter it with the right attitude, the right environment, and a team that believes in its chances,” McCullum shared with the British media on Monday. “We have developed a clear understanding of how we want to play, and we are unafraid of defeat, which is a remarkable trait. Our captain and senior players have been instrumental in fostering this mindset.”

McCullum emphasized that by playing according to their preferred style, England can apply pressure on world-class opponents and increase their chances of success. Ahead of the Ashes opener at Edgbaston on June 16, England will first face Ireland in a one-off match starting on Thursday.

Regarding the team’s injury concerns, McCullum confirmed that fast bowlers James Anderson (groin) and Ollie Robinson (ankle) will miss the Ireland test but are expected to be fit for the Ashes. Additionally, all-rounder Ben Stokes, who had a challenging period with the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League due to injuries, is making good progress. McCullum mentioned that Stokes appears to be in excellent physical condition and hinted that he might contribute with the ball during the Ashes.

“Stokesy is progressing well too. He looks really fit as well, looks in great order… I believe he will bowl at some point during the summer. He is a world-class all-rounder, and if he can bowl, that’s fantastic. If not, we will find alternatives,” McCullum concluded.