Mitchell Johnson calls ‘bull**** on Bazball’ and claims English style will backfire in The Ashes

Former Aussie Test cricket brand Mitchell Johnson has fired another missile at England ahead of The Ashes, branding Bazball a ‘bull****’ and claiming it will backfire spectacularly against Pat Cummins’ men.

Throughout his career, Johnson terrorized England batsmen with his deadly pace and left arm swing, becoming a key player for Australia.

In the 2013/14 Ashes series, he took 37 wickets at an average of 13.97, making him one of the most dominant displays by a fast bowler in the tournament’s history.

Johnson retired from international cricket in 2015, leaving a lasting legacy as one of Australia’s greatest Ashes heroes.

Bazball, a term that originated in the 2022 England cricket season, describes the playing style of the England national cricket team under head coach Brendon McCullum [‘Baz’] and Captain Ben Stokes.

New England skipper Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum are sure to roll out Bazball against the Aussies in The Ashes

Aussie skipper Pat Cummins faces the tough challenge of leading the Test side to the World Test Championship final against India before The Ashes against England

Introduced by general manager Rob Key, this approach emphasizes positivity in both offense and defense, covering all aspects of the game.

The Bazball mentality encourages players to make bold decisions while batting or fielding, promoting assertive and dynamic team performance.

By embracing Bazball’s innovative elements, the team aims to surprise opponents and challenge traditional cricket norms.

But Johnson, who writes for his column The Westdon’t buy it.

“It’s time to call Bazball bulls..t,” he wrote.

“I am pleased to tip my hat to England for the way they have turned their Test cricket around over the past year under new coach Brendon McCullum, nicknamed Baz, and new captain Ben Stokes.

“Because they were pretty pathetic here in Australia when they were thrashed 4-0 less than 18 months ago.”

Johnson believes changing the wickets and boundaries will play into Australia’s hands in The Ashes

Veteran bowlers Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad will have to lead the attack while several frontline bowlers are unavailable

England’s Ben Foakes recently monetized a century under the Bazball style of play, but Aussie batsmen will also be able to rake in big numbers

Johnson mocked claims that England were making the sport ‘revolutionary’, saying it was just a smokescreen that Pat Cummins’ men wouldn’t fall for.

‘Gamemanship and getting into the heads of opponents is definitely an important ingredient here. But all the bluff and bluff around Bazball will not intimidate Pat Cummins and his team,” he wrote.

England’s new obsession with attacking at all costs could play into Australia’s hands and backfire spectacularly during the Ashes.

“Call it what you will, but Bazball is nothing new. England are not the first team in Test cricket to use attack and aggression to try and overwhelm their rivals.’

Johnson said all elements of Bazball had already been invented and used with great success by the major West Indies parties of the 1980s and the dominant Australian side in the early 2000s.

He added that changing the conditions under which Aussies have traditionally struggled in England would play into their rival’s hands.

“McCullum and Stokes are half too smart when they heed a request to their groundsmen for flat fields and shorter boundaries to aid in their Bazball approach,” he wrote.

“It’s all their eggs in one basket and puts tremendous pressure on their hitters to perform.”

Australia will play India tonight in the final of the World Test Championship in England before the first Test of The Ashes kicks off at Edgbaston on June 16.