The era of baseball is officially over. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Sunday sacked Brendon McCullum as coach of the men’s Test team, days after Ben Stokes retired from international cricket. The end of one of the most talked-about partnerships in modern Test cricket followed a disappointing 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia and a 2-1 loss at home to New Zealand, bringing the curtain down on a four-year revolution that changed England’s cricketing identity.For four years, England under Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes have made Test cricket feel anything but predictable. Conventional wisdom has been discarded. The draws have become unacceptable. Fourth-inning pursuits have become opportunities rather than impossible missions. Every statement, every pitch and almost every shot challenged cricket’s oldest beliefs.When McCullum stepped into the fold in May 2022, England were broken. They had won just one of their previous 17 Tests, Joe Root he had quit as captain, confidence had evaporated and Australia’s Ashes humiliation had exposed deep cracks.McCullum did not promise miracles. I just asked England to stop fearing failure. The result was a cultural shift that became one of cricket’s biggest talking points.
Baseball era numbers
Matches: 49, Wins: 27, Losses: 20, Draws: 2, Win Percentage: 55.1%England never accepted lots. Only two Tests ended without a result in almost four years
Before Bazball: A team in search of hope
England entered the summer of 2022 ranked near the bottom of the World Test Championship standings. His batting looked fragile, the bowlers lacked support, and each defeat seemed to worsen the crisis. Rob Key’s appointments of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes weren’t just coaching and captaincy changes, they were a complete reset of mentality.
2022: The birth of a Revolution
New Zealand (Men) – Won 3-0Three tests. Three fourth innings chases. Joe Root rediscovered freedom. Jonny Bairstow became unstoppable England chased targets of 277, 299 and 296 with an aggression rarely seen in Test cricket. Suddenly, 250-plus chases no longer felt extraordinary.India (Male)The fifth Test postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2021 produced perhaps Bazball’s greatest victory. Chasing 378, England hardly looked troubled. Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow shared an unbeaten partnership of 269 runs to complete England’s highest successful chase in Test history and level the series 2-2. It has become the poster child for Bazball.South Africa (Men)South Africa handed McCullum his first defeat at Lord’s. Instead of panicking, England responded by winning the next two Tests convincingly.Pakistan (Away)Perhaps the biggest overseas hit of the era. England became the first visiting team to whitewash Pakistan 3-0 in Pakistan. England’s Bazball approach rewrote the Test record books with their ultra-aggressive batting. On the opening day against Pakistan in 2022, England scored 506 runs in 75 overs at a remarkable run rate of 6.75, breaking the previous first-day record of 494 set by Australia in 1910. The innings featured many milestones, including England’s highest first-session total (174), the country’s fastest centuries (83 more fast) double century partnership (181 balls), while Zak Crawley and Harry Brook also recorded record quick centuries.However, the philosophy also had its drawbacks. Ben Stokes has sometimes paid the price for relentless attacking intent, getting out short, while England’s batsmen have continued to push the boundaries of innovation, with players such as Joe Root introducing unconventional shots such as the reverse ramp against fast bowlers and even batting left-handed in certain situations.
2023: Baseball Meets Its Biggest Test
The 2023 Test series between England and New Zealand ended in a thrilling 1-1 draw after New Zealand staged one of the greatest comebacks in cricket history. The two-match series was played in February 2023 across Mount Maunganui and Wellington. England won the first test by 267 runs. Relying on their aggressive “Bazball” strategy, England declared first in both innings (325/9d and 374). Stuart Broad and James Anderson then tore apart the hosts’ batting line-up under lights to give England a commanding victory. New Zealand won the 2nd test by just 1 run. New Zealand won by 1 run. England posted a massive 435/8d and enforced the follow-on after bowling the hosts out for 209. However, New Zealand came back with 483 runs in their second innings, setting England a target of 258. Neil Wagner James Anderson dismissed to bowl England out for 257, making New Zealand only the fourth team ever to win a Test match after following.
The ashes: Glory without the urn
England’s biggest test was to win the Ashes which they won last in 2015 but England lost the first two Tests. Many believed the Ashes were over. Instead, they fought back to level the series 2-2. But Australia retained the ballot box. 2024: Reality ArrivesIf 2022 represented possibility and 2023 represented belief, 2024 exposed Bazball’s limitations.India Away (lost 1-4)England shocked India by winning in Hyderabad. Ollie PopeThe magnificent 196 looked like another famous chapter of Bazball.Instead, India adapted. Despite England’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ strategy which earned them an early lead, India dominated the rest of the series and won the series 4-1. Yashasvi Jaiswal scored two centuries back-to-back. India’s spinners and relentless pressure turned the series around.
James Anderson’s Farewell
The West Indies series ended 3-0. Yet the most emotional moment belonged to James Anderson. After 704 Test wickets, England’s greatest fast bowler left. It also symbolizes the gradual transition from England’s old guard to the new generation of McCullum.2025: Cracks become visibleWins against Zimbabwe and New Zealand could not hide bigger concerns. England failed again against elite opposition. India dominated another major series ending in a 2-2 draw. Australia dismantled England 4-1 in the Ashes.
2026: The end
The final chapter was perhaps the most difficult. England lost at home to New Zealand. Ben Stokes retired. Soon after, Brendon McCullum walked away from the Test side, ending one of cricket’s most notable coaching partnerships.World Test Championship Tour
| WTC cycle | Final / current position | Performance & Context of England |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2023 | 4th | Finished with a 46.97% percentage points (PCT). England started the cycle in poor form, winning just one of their first 17 Tests before the arrival of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes. The Bazball revolution took a dramatic turn, with England winning 11 of his final 22 Tests to climb from the bottom half of the table to fourth, narrowly missing out on a place in the WTC Final. |
| 2023-2025 | 5 and | End the loop with a 43.18% PCT. England recorded 10 wins, eight defeats and one drawbut his campaign was greatly impacted by a Deduction of 19 points for slow over-rates during the 2023 Ashes. |
| 2025-2027 (Current) | 7 and | Currently sites 7 and with a 24.36% PCT. England’s hopes took a major hit after a 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia and a 2-1 home loss in New Zealand in June 2026. With Ben Stokes retiring and Brendon McCullum leaving as Test coach. |
Because it finally fell
For all his brilliance, Bazball left two major gaps in his resume. No Ashes win.No Test series win against India.England thrilled the whole world, but against the two strongest test nations of the ebbic, the formula repeatedly came up short.