Despite a two-wicket setback against Australia, England head coach Brendon McCullum feels the first Ashes Test “confirmed” his team’s aggressive strategy and expects his side to “go a bit harder” in the second Test at Lord’s next week . England scored 4.61 runs per over and targeted Australia’s bowlers from the first ball as Zak Crawley knocked Pat Cummins through the covers for four. Australia, however, won the match on the final day by scoring 3.20 runs per over over five days and consistently fielding defenses.
“I think we played our style, which is to try to push the game forward. I thought Australia were happy with their style too, which ultimately led to success for them and I’m sure they’ll continue that tactic throughout.” I think it’s going to be quite a fascinating game,” said ESPNcricinfo McCullum, the England test coach.
“I think I had a bit of an inkling that they might try to put out some sweepers – and it’s hard to argue because they won the test match, right? I’m sure they’ll stick with that all the time strategy. , which I think is great because we’re going a bit harder and they’re probably going to stick with their strategy,” he added.
“Of course you would have preferred to win – that’s just the nature of sport sometimes – but I thought the way we played I think it confirmed our style of play as well. If we had a little bit of the rubbing of the green then maybe we could have been on the other side of it,” he added.
McCullum does not expect either team to make major adjustments to their respective styles in the second Test, which begins at Lord’s on June 28, although he believes England will be more aggressive than they were at Edgbaston.
“I thought it was a great test match and two very different styles of play. But just like a heavyweight boxing match, not everyone has to fight the same thing. I thought it was a great test match and I’m sure everyone watching around the world, and everyone too who was here at Edgbaston absolutely loved it – and so do we,” said the England coach.
“Both teams have some time to process what has happened over the past five days and maybe adjust a few things a bit along the way. But I expect them to continue to play the same kind of game.” [style] they executed here, and we will do the same,” McCullum said.
The second Ashes Test begins at Lord’s on Wednesday, with Australia leading 1-0 in the series.
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