With Bazball buried, Ben Stokes turns to old-school resistance

Ben Stokes displayed a gritty, old-school resistance at the Adelaide Oval, a stark contrast to the aggressive 'Bazball' approach, as England struggled against a relentless Australian attack. Stokes endured punishing conditions, including a Mitchell Starc bouncer and intense heat, while batting for nearly four hours.

The Day Eight of the Ashes saw Stokes standing almost alone as 48,849 spectators anticipated England's collapse. Despite weary hamstrings and aching knees, Stokes' spirit remained unbroken. He attempted to solidify England's position in the city of churches.

Stokes' innings offered a glimmer of hope, technically keeping the Ashes alive. England were at 71 for 4 when he arrived, following Joe Root's dismissal, and later at 186 for 8. The innings defied expectations by stretching into day three, but the end still seems inevitable.

Australia's attack, operating at peak performance, exploited batting-friendly conditions. This highlighted England's wasted opportunity, failing to capitalize on conditions that should have favored them. Instead of making Australia's first innings total of 371 seem subpar, they allowed it to appear even more imposing.

Stokes, as always, dug deep, displaying immense heart. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. his unbeaten 45 off 151 balls prioritized survival over attacking intent, a departure from the Bazball philosophy. This cautious approach, while intended to absorb pressure, ultimately kept the scoreboard stagnant, leaving England still far behind.

England's struggles unfolded on a pitch that head coach Brendon McCullum believed would suit their attacking style. Ironically, Stokes' past comments about preferring aggressive play over a conservative approach haunted him as he adopted a slow, defensive strategy.

His low strike rate was a significant shift from the team's usual aggressive approach. The top order's dismissals, resulting from defensive shots, underscored the necessity of Stokes' resistance. This highlighted a full circle moment for England, as they transitioned from fearless cricket to a desperate attempt to grind out a result.

The first iteration of Bazball emerged as a response to previous failures, yielding initial success. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. recent results have been less impressive, exposing the limitations of this approach. In Adelaide, the second iteration of Bazball was forced to confront reality, facing a formidable Australian team.

In Adelaide, the harsh realities were evident. The value of Bazball appears relative to its alternatives, working as an initial remedy. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. it has proven ineffective as a standalone strategy, leaving an overly protected team exposed. Stokes, whose experiences shaped this path, battled on, recalling his debut in the same city.

Australia are poised to secure victory and will likely aim to inflict further misery on England's bowlers, including Stokes. The challenge will be to see if England can handle the pressure and avoid a humiliating defeat.

In the final stages of play, Stokes struggled to replenish his energy, unable to consume the necessary carbohydrate drinks. His body, already pushed to its limits, rejected the sustenance it desperately needed.