Joe Root Kagiso Rabada Brendon Maccullum Manchester South Africa New Zealand India cricket Ben Stokes England Joe Root Kagiso Rabada Brendon Maccullum Manchester South Africa New Zealand India

England vow to stick with 'Bazball' in bid to level South Africa series

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England captain Ben Stokes has insisted there will be no let-up in the team's attacking approach as they look to bounce back in the second Test against South Africa starting on Thursday.The hosts have arrived at Manchester's Old Trafford 1-0 down in a three-match series following a chastening innings and 12-run defeat inside three days by the Proteas at Lord's last week.That was their first defeat under the new leadership duo of Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum following a run of four successive wins with an aggressive approach dubbed 'Bazball', characterised by attacking batting that saw England chase down stiff fourth innings targets against New Zealand and India during the past two months.England, however, had no answer to a formidable South Africa pace attack led by Kagiso Rabada at Lord's, where they were dismissed for just 165 and 149 in their two innings, although a lack of domestic red-ball cricket since last month's win over India, was arguably more responsible than 'Bazball' for a clatter of wickets.And a rare double failure by Joe Root meant England have not won a Test when the star batsman has not made a fifty for more than two years.All-rounder Stokes, who took over as captain after close friend Root had presided over just one win in 17 Tests, was in no mood to change tack after just one loss."Absolutely not," he said. "We know well that when we perform to the capabilities that we're capable of, then we can go out and put on an incredible performance, like everybody's seen in the four games before."'Timid'Former New Zealand captain McCullum said England's problem at Lord's had been a lack of attack rather than too much cavalier cricket. "I think they were perhaps a touch timid," he said. "We approach the

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Ben Stokes vowed England would keep up their bold approach to Test cricket under coach Brendon McCullum after wrapping up a 2-1 series win over South Africa at the Oval on Monday. The match was shortened to three days after the first day was washed out and the second scrapped following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. But England still needed less than half an hour to seal victory by nine wickets in front of a sparse crowd in London. "This game here, with it being shortened, our main aim was it ending in a result," England captain Stokes told Sky Sports.
Brendon McCullum after wrapping up a 2-1 series win over South Africa at the Oval on Monday. The match was shortened to three days after the first day was washed out and the second scrapped following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. But England still needed less than half an hour to seal victory by nine wickets in front of a sparse crowd in London.
England started the day at 97-0 needing another 33 to win and picked them up in 27 minutes for the loss of Alex Lees for 39. Crawley finished on 69 not out, with Pope unbeaten on 11. The victory made it six wins from seven Tests this summer, following a 3-0 beating of New Zealand and a win over India, all following an awful run that brought one win from the previous 17 Tests and led to the arrival of Ben Stokes as captain in place of Joe Root.
LONDON :Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope steered England to an impressive nine-wicket victory over South Africa at The Oval on Monday to complete a 2-1 series victory and put the seal on an astonishing turnaround in fortunes for the home team this year.

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