Ashes 2023Tim Paine explains how Australia countered 'Bazball' in the 1st Ashes Test

By India Today Sports DeskFormer captain Tim Paine explained how Australia countered the Bazball tactics in the first Ashes Test, saying that Australia’s tactics in the series opener were identical to those of England captain Ben Stokes.

England were mostly aggressive with both bat and ball, while Australia were slightly more conservative during the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston in Birmingham. The visitors eventually won by two wickets in the cat-and-mouse game, taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Paine was asked on the SEN podcast ‘Whateley’ about how Australia countered England’s ‘Bazball’ approach, and he responded.

“I thought it was pretty much as I expected to be honest. I think Australia were always going to set slightly what you can call defensive fields if you like. I think they were no different really to Ben Stokes,” Paine said.

“Ben Stokes and England make some funky fields and all of a sudden it’s genius. Australia put a couple of people on the fence and all of a sudden it’s defensive. I think there were some clear strategies from both sides, whether it was attack or defense.”

While Pat Cummins was criticised for putting fielders on the square boundaries from the first ball of the Edgbaston Test, Stokes was lauded for setting aggressive fields. With an umbrella-like field placement, the England skipper accounted for Usman Khawaja’s dismissal in the first innings.

Tim Paine believes Australia’s ability to play both offensive and defensive cricket gives them an advantage in the ongoing Ashes series.

“When a Test match goes for five days, you got to be able to do both. In a series that goes for five Test matches, you have got to do both. I think from what I have seen earlier and what I thought, I think that’s where Australia have got the advantage,” Paine further said.

Paine concluded by stating that England will try new things in order to push Australia out of their comfort zone. However, he believes that Australia will benefit from the hosts’ one-dimensional approach.