Ricky Ponting, a former captain of Australia, lauded Ben Stokes, the current captain of England, for his proactive attitude to leadership during the first test of the Ashes, which took place at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
During Australia’s first innings in Birmingham, Stokes used a variety of different experimental field placings and bowling strategies. One of these strategies, which included a very odd field, assisted in the dismissal of Usman Khawaja, who had scored a hundred runs.
Oliie Robinson, the England bowler, replied to the field by delivering a yorker to remove Khawaja, who was looking to play behind the wicket. The England captain had most of his fielders in front of the wicket, and he was looking to play behind the wicket.
After establishing an on-side field for a few of deliveries in an unconventional wall arrangement, skipper Ben Stokes decided to mirror it on the off-side by positioning six catchers in front of Khawaja in a field that some people have referred to as the “Brumbrella.”
The period of Ben Stokes contributed significantly to the development of the current cricket language. After the words Bazball, Bazbait, and Nighthawk were established, a whole new term emerged: the Brumbrella. It was originally used to refer to a big pitch cover that was used to protect the ground; however, it can also be used to describe the ludicrous field that Stokes and Ollie Robinson created in order to end Khawaja’s resistance of 321 balls.
It’s difficult to keep up with all of them, and he’s switching things up virtually after every ball, which is fantastic and demonstrates proactive leadership. “He’s always trying to move the game forward, and he’s looking at any little way that he possibly can to pick up a wicket and change the momentum of the game,” Ponting said. “He’s looking at any little way that he possibly can to pick up a wicket and change the momentum of the game.”
“With Khawaja’s innings, I’d hate to attempt to count how many times he altered the field for him and how many bowling adjustments and tactical changes he did to try to get Khawaja out – and then it eventually worked. I’d hate to try and tally how many times he changed the field for him.
“I don’t believe that I’ve ever seen a field like that before in a test match. There was nothing except a shield of fielders in front of the batsman’s face the whole time. And being able to throw a yorker was the most important thing, along with bowling a few of slower balls. And as expected, Khawaja made use of his feet, gave himself some space, and surrendered his stumps before the yorker uprooted his off stump from the ground.
“This is outstanding material. It’s incredibly refreshing to watch a team play this way and a captain willing to attempt all he possibly can,” he continued. “It’s really good for the Test game to see a team play this way.”
Before the start of the series, there was much conjecture on whether or not Stokes would continue to play cricket in the Bazball manner or whether there would be a shift in strategy. The question “will Bazball stand up?” generated a lot of conversation. Ponting posed the question, “Are they going to have the intestinal fortitude to play that way against the Australians?”
He pointed out that “well, I think that question has been answered for us,” which was his observation.
“It’s certainly there, the way that they want to play, this bold new approach to Test match cricket, trying to make bold decisions at any stage in the game where they can,” said the commentator.