Latest news with #Baz
India Today
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
What is Bazball and should India be scared of it?
Bazball. Bazball. Bazball. It is always only about Bazball. Irritating frankly. For the amount of hype that it gets, Bazball has not really won England the world title in two separate World Test Championship India get ready to play England in a 5-match Test series, it is once again about Bazball. To be fair, the hype had been a little less this time, but it was Joe Root, who once again triggered the term, stating that Bazball never quite got the credit for the tactical nuance that it carried with might not always get reported how it is—I don't think 'Bazball' is the right way to describe it. It has been a big change and is different to how a lot of teams play, but there is a lot more method to it than is probably perceived," the former England captain said a day before the start of the opening Test match in Headingly. That then, obviously demands the question, what really is Bazball?The funniest thing perhaps is that Bazball, the highly aggressive form of cricket, with both bat and ball, which promised to make Test cricket more interesting, is a term hated by its multiple occasions, England Test cricketers have come out and gone on record that Baz (Brendon McCullum) believes that Bazball is a term given by the media to hype up England's approach to Test captain Ben Stokes in early 2024 said that England cricketers actively tried to stay out of it.'It's a phrase that was created by the media. Something that we try and stay away from. It just came from what we have managed to do over the last two years and how we've played. We don't necessarily like it, Baz (coach Brendon McCullum) hates it! Whenever that word pops up, we just try to say that's how England plays Test cricket,' Stokes told the media going into England's Test tour of India in is that not what England set out to do? Bring back crowd with a high-risk brand of cricket?What Goes Into Bazball?Under the tutelage of Brendon McCullum, the England cricket team have tried to play a very non-traditional form of Test cricket. Ultra-aggressive with the bat, the team has declared their innings on Day 1 on occasions. This has led to Test matches being fast on flat tracks, teams that have not been able to match the tempo, have been routed. Ask Pakistan in 2022, who were blown out of the water in their own home (0-3) by this English team. On pitches where other teams had to toil, score 500 runs over 2 days, and then wait patiently for the other team to collapse, England simply said 'No, too much work. I rather blast 500 in 3 sessions and freak the opposition out till they hand me the match themselves'.advertisementThe tactic has worked on several occasions, and failed miserably in goes without saying that McCullum has been able to identify a crop of players who are suited to his style of playing. One of the key differentiators among the current crop of England batters against the rest of the world is how many balls do they leave (shoulder arms) at the start of their innings. A look at just one of England's matches and things become clear that unlike the majority of the world, the England openers like to dominate their opponents from the very start of the match. Someone like Ben Duckett wants to get the feel of the ball early in the innings. Zak Crawley wants to get into his long stride and drive the ball through the the summer of 2019, till Brendon McCullum took over the team, England's batting was in tatters. Joe Root, their lead scorer in that period grafted the innings. If he was able to score big runs, it gave the England side enough cushion to bowl oppositions out, something that they did in Sri England batters between 2019 to May 2022Joe RootRuns: 1243Strike Rate: 51.42Rory BurnsRuns: 1077Strike Rate: 41.74Ben StokesRuns: 813Strike Rate: 56.77Jos ButtlerRuns: 735Strike Rate: 47.88Dom SibleyRuns: 484Strike Rate: 32.18Since Brendon McCullum took over the side, the make-up of that top 5 batters list looks very different. Joe Root still leads the scoring charts, and at a much faster rate. Root has been so prolific in the Brendon McCullum era that the expectation is that he would cross everyone and become the second-highest scorer in Test cricket history by the end of this series is 370-odd runs away from overtaking Ricky Ponting - and England fans are positive that he will be able to score those runs in the 5 matches against Root, the other batters have also scored runs at a rapid rate. Openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley have been prolific, and so has been vice-captain Ollie Pope. The only issue that Pope perhaps suffers is the jitteriness at the start of the innings. If he is able to get past the 20-run mark after the first one hour of batting, Pope usually looks like a sensational No.3 batter in the England Test Batters in the Bazball Era (2022–2025)Joe RootRuns: 1783Strike Rate: 70.81Ollie PopeRuns: 1352Strike Rate: 76.16Zak CrawleyRuns: 1045Strike Rate: 77.29Ben DuckettRuns: 1007Strike Rate: 88.87Jonny BairstowRuns: 1003Strike Rate: 89.31According to the data crunched by Cricbuzz, England batters have been playing good length balls better in home conditions than any team in the me explain. Since 2022, England's batters have averaged 30.73 against good-length balls in home Tests. To put things in perspective, visiting batters in England during this period have averaged a mere 13.39 off good-length has directly affected England's batting stocks (home conditions), shooting their average at home to an incredible 43.86, the second best among all countries in the world. England have bullied teams with the bat at home, which nearly helped them take back the Ashes in 2023 from the then World Test Champions Australia, who had annihilated India in the final of the Batting Averages by Host Country (Since 2022)Sri LankaAvg (Since 2022): 44.39Avg (2018–21): 35.51EnglandAvg (Since 2022): 43.86Avg (2018–21): 32.25AustraliaAvg (Since 2022): 40.25Avg (2018–21): 44.01New ZealandAvg (Since 2022): 38.91Avg (2018–21): 55.28PakistanAvg (Since 2022): 37.87Avg (2018–21): 45.00IndiaAvg (Since 2022): 37.45Avg (2018–21): 50.52South AfricaAvg (Since 2022): 35.74Avg (2018–21): 32.98BangladeshAvg (Since 2022): 31.42Avg (2018–21): 32.89West IndiesAvg (Since 2022): 29.22Avg (2018–21): 25.68This incredible rebirth of England's batting perhaps needs a little more May 2022, just before Brendon McCullum took over, England were 6th in the ICC table with just 88 points to their name - far away from their arch-rivals Australia, who had a rating of 128 at the were so bad, that this was their lowest ranking in the Test fray since 1995. Wherever they travelled to, they failed to put up a fight. Between the summers of 2020-2022, England played 26 Test matches, winning just 7 and losing 12. Despite a series win in Sri Lanka, that period of England was marked with massive uncertainty amongst the players and vs IND, 1st Test: Preview"I would change Covid. The fact we played as many games as we did in those environments, I don't think, was fair on the group. We were playing to keep the lights on and win games of cricket," Root had told Sky Sports in an interview reflecting on that pinnacle of the uncertainty reached in Ashes 2020/21, when Pat Cummins' Australia ripped apart the English side, a series that eventually led to Joe Root being dropped as the England it is in this context that we have to look at Birth of BazballAfter their losses in Australia and West Indies, England needed something drastic. Former England captain Rob Key took over the reins at the ECB (English and Wales Cricket Board) and decided to appoint Brendon McCullum as the head coach of the England Test this time, McCullum was coaching Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League, and had no credentials of coaching any international side at came in with a simple idea. Attack with the bat, attack with the ball, make Test cricket entertaining brought in assurances that players would be backed despite their failures, as long as they were on board with the brand of cricket he wanted to from there on, magic won against New Zealand, South Africa, Ireland, and even a home Test against was the Test match against India where the entertainment turned into 378, completely out of the game for the first two days of the (rescheduled) Test match, Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root turned up the theatrics of that game was incredible. A fired-up Virat Kohli sledged Bairstow relentlessly on Day 3, at a time when he could not get bat to ball. That sledging had the opposite effect to what the Indian side would have hoped for, as Bairstow started going hammer and tongs against Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Stokes IndiaSelection dilemmasVirat Kohli, Ashwin & SharmaAnd a team movie-night our full interview with Ben Stokes ahead of tomorrow's first Test now— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 19, 2025Bar Jasprit Bumrah, who picked up 2 wickets in the final innings, none of the India bowlers could take a single wicket. Bairstow and Root scored hundreds, chasing down an unlikely target at Birmingham, with that Test match, Bazball was truly there on, it was Bazball, Bazball, Bazball. Irritating frankly, but there was no denying that, the method worked. More importantly, it was an entertaining watch, and there was no point complaining about the fallacies of the ultra-aggressive approach and if it would have been successful in tough overseas Contrasts of BazballFor all the folklore that Bazball has amassed, it can be argued that Bazball has its flat tracks, which England are now dishing out at home, it is a superbly efficient way of spooking out the opposition teams. Brendon McCullum's England have been successful at home, in Pakistan (2022) and in New Zealand, which now offer the flattest pitches on earth in Test when they have been faced with sporting pitches, wickets that have a hint of turn in them, England have collapsed. They were hammered by India in 2024, and then again lost to Pakistan in rank turners, later in the same needs to be reminded that Bazballing England are yet to face South Africa, Australia and Sri Lanka away from home, three teams known to be exceptionally strong in their own lack of wins away from home has resulted in failure to reach the World Test Championship twice in a row. Three, if you include the period with Chris it is also true that England are ranked as the third-best side in the world in the Test format, a huge achievement for a side who were tottering at the bottom half of the table just before McCullum took over the Lies Ahead?There is no doubt that under Brendon McCullum, England have been able to revive their culture of Test cricket. However, the time of flashes is perhaps gone and it is now time to give consistent results. McCullum is in his third year of coaching this English side, and now they simply cannot be about the vibes any win here, another win there, and a multitude of near-misses will not be driving the narrative of the side, should not be driving the narrative of the is time that England aim higher, a belief that they would perhaps get if they win the India Test series. You May Also Like
Time Out
2 days ago
- Business
- Time Out
One of New York's best bagel restaurants is set to shutter this week
It's the end of a bagel era: after 11 years in Little Italy, it's time to say buh-bye to Baz Bagels. Owner Bari Musacchio announced the shop's imminent closing on social media, alerting customers that the restaurant's last day of service would be Sunday, June 22. "The truth is—opening this neighborhood spot in my own neighborhood was my actual 'dream come true. And we are extremely proud to have achieved that. Being part of your daily routines, special occasions and familiar faces on the block has been incredible rewarding. The BIG impact this little shop has had in NYC continues to amaze me every single day," Musacchio captioned the closing announcement. "We've recently moved out of the neighborhood, and it feels like the right moment to focus on new personal and professional opportunities." Along with thanking "our team, customers, vendors and neighbors from every era of Baz over the past decade," Musacchio also teased that "an exciting new bagel brand" would be taking over the 181 Grand Street space. And she also noted that while "it is the end of our Little Italy chapter," it might not be the end of Baz Bagels overall. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Baz Bagel & Restaurant (@bazbagel) Opening in spring 2014—in what was a bit of a New York bagel boom, what with the high-profile debuts of Russ & Daughters Cafe and Black Seed Bagels that same year—Baz was known for its small-batch, labor-intensive rounds: The slow-rising dough rings were set on burlap-covered boards and given a spin in a rotating tray oven, resulting in springy-yet-crusty vehicles for spreads like beet-horseradish, cucumber-dill and wasabi-tobiko cream cheeses.
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Stokes sends five-word message to England cricket bosses as summer target set
England have a clear goal this summer following the release of the ICC's new world rankings, with Ben Stokes' side currently sitting at No.2 behind old rivals Australia Ben Stokes will happily fall off the wagon if England take the first steps towards reclaiming No.1 in the Test charts at Trent Bridge. When the International Cricket Council's rankings, based loosely on the science of a lottery tombola, were revised earlier this month, England surfaced at No.2 behind Australia. But with a marquee series against India later this summer, and the legacy-defining Ashes tour in November, Stokes fancies planting the Cross of St George back at the summit. After the updated rankings were published, the England captain sent coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key his mission statement in a five-word text message: 'One more place to go.' England have not been at No.1 in Test cricket since August 2012, when Sir Andrew Strauss was skipper. And while the one-off, four-day Test against Zimbabwe is expected to be target practice ahead of an Indian summer and glory-or-bust assignment in Australia, Stokes admitted he has his eyes on the top spot. He stopped drinking alcohol in January to help his recovery from surgery to repair a torn hamstring, but will permit himself a celebratory snifter if England get their international summer off to a winning start. Stokes said: 'When the rankings came out, I did send Baz and Keys a text saying we've got one more place to go. 'If we're able to accomplish the things that I believe we're able to accomplish, and if we win (the series) we've got coming up, the likelihood is that we will be at the top of the leaderboard. There's no doubt in my mind that we have the ability to be able to be that team. 'We're trying to take all the good things we've built over the last three years, adding to all the good stuff that we've managed to achieve and all the good things that we've created in that dressing room, and we thought this was the absolute perfect time to do that. 'Have we got another level to go in terms of our development? Absolutely - Baz uses this phrase a lot, but we're starting from a position of strength. Everyone understands we have definitely got another level or two to go to.' Stokes looks chiselled after his rehab programme and booze ban. He is fit to bowl against Zimbabwe, although his workload will be finite. He explained: 'When I got injured, I just decided I'm not gonna have a drink until my rehab's done and I'm back on the field. There's no benefit to having alcohol in your body so, yeah, it was a decision that I just made for myself. 'And I'm being a bit more mindful of it when it comes to my preparation and recovery, especially with the big summer and everything we've got coming up. 'Obviously I've had a few injuries over the last couple of years - the left leg's gone through a bit trauma with the surgeries it's had in a short period of time, so I'm just making sure that I'm giving myself the best possible chance when I'm out there competing. 'I've not stopped drinking - I just decided not to. But if we win, I'll have a drink. Definitely.' After McCullum's pointed memo to his players to 'show some humility' after claims they paid too much attention to golf and not enough to net practice, there is no danger of England's Bazball cavaliers suddenly converting to shrinking violets. Stokes expects more of the same - assertive, audacious cricket - and he said: 'I always want to win every single time I walk on that field, but there's a few things that we felt we needed to change. "Hopefully it becomes very clear to our fans and everyone that everything that we do is about winning. 'I want this team to to dominate series, to dominate days, dominate every session. It's not always going to happen like that, but that's the mindset that I want us to go out with every single day, so everything is is aimed towards winning.' Zimbabwe, playing their first Test in England since 2000, are 25-1 virtual no-hopers with the bookies, but their pace attack will be led by 6ft 8in Blessing Muzarabani, who warned: 'We believe in ourselves. We believe we can win.'
Herald Sun
18-05-2025
- Business
- Herald Sun
Backroom Baz: Dan Andrews' team throws city gath without him
Time flies when you're having fun. It's already been a year since the mighty team behind Daniel Andrews joined forces to start a new consultancy, and what a party they threw to celebrate. Andrews' former chief of staff Lissie Ratcliffe, her deputy Jessie McCrone, ex strategy guru Ben Foster, and one longtime spin doctor formed FMRS Advisory last year to flog their corporate and government knowledge to cashed up clients. After what Baz is told was a slow start to get up and running they must be doing OK, given the swish party at QV's No Vacancy Gallery on Wednesday. It was a who's who of Labor-aligned politicos from Lord Mayor Nick Reece to MPs Danny Pearson, Michaela Settle and Belinda Wilson. VCCI boss Paul Guerra was there as were a slew of former advisers to top ministers including Lisa Neville, Tim Pallas and Martin Pakula. Royal Children's Hospital comms boss Kog Ravindran was among the crowd as was current staffers from Jactina Allan's office. One person noticeably absent from the do? Dan himself. Which made Baz feel better for not getting an invite. Maybe next year. Jaclyn goes green for maiden budget When she delivers her first budget this week, Jaclyn Symes will be only the second of our top bean counters to be granted permission of the lower house to appear in its glorious green chamber to do so. Symes is just the second upper house MP to hold the position, following Brumby government treasurer John Lenders. Manager of government business, Mary-Anne Thomas, said she was looking forward to welcoming Symes. 'I will reflect that I am a person that normally does not really welcome those from the other house into this place,' she said. 'I think that this is the people's house and that we are the engine of government here in the Legislative Assembly. 'The house of review does its job, but seriously we are the people on the ground every day responding to the needs of our constituents. However, in this case, I want to make an exception because I do very much look forward to welcoming our Treasurer.' Baz is told it's still to be decided whether Jac will be allowed to bring her knife in, or be forced to leave it at the door. Watch this space. Unearthing the past The federal election might be over, but Baz couldn't let this one go. First-time Labor candidate Tully Fletcher ran a troubled campaign in the Bass Coast seat of Monash, which led to a rare swing towards successful Liberal candidate, Mary Aldred. But why? Could it have been locals unearthed some of his controversial statements: like publicly describing Hillary Clinton's personality as being akin to a mythical creature renowned for its unpleasant stench, comparing Julia Gillard to a character from TV show Yes Minister and sternly criticising the party's factional system? The comments were made in newspaper editorials he co-authored when he was a law student and co-editor of the Australian National University student newspaper, Woroni. Mr Fletcher declined to comment this week, including on whether his comments about Ms Clinton were sexist. 'It's a no comment from me,' he said. Mr Fletcher and his co-editor also called for Australia to dump the Royal Family, calling the Monarchy 'patently ridiculous'. Mr Fletcher's view on the monarchy was in stark contrast to the people he sought to represent on the Bass Coast, who in 1999 voted overwhelmingly in favour of retaining the monarchy. Mr Fletcher was, until the campaign, working as a director at consultancy firm Deloitte. Before that he worked as a staffer to Andrews government minister Martin Pakula. He declined to comment on his future plans. $600k annual pay salary up for grabs It's been a couple of weeks since Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry boss, Paul Guerra, announced he was moving on to greener pasture with Melbourne Football Club. So it begs the question, who will fill the big shoes and flash jackets he'll leave at VCCI's Collins St headquarters? Former Property Council head turned podcaster Danni Hunter's name keeps getting mentioned, as does that of Committee for Melbourne boss Scott Veenker. Long running VCCI chief of staff, and sometime acting boss, Chanelle Pearson, is also considered a contender, if only an outside chance. Baz is told the field of candidates is growing slowly, but among the small grouping there is some fierce competition for the coveted job which boasts access to Melbourne's top movers and shakers, and a $600,000 annual pay packet to boot. Nice work if you can get it. Great debate back for more Spring St's newest and greatest annual event is back. After the huge success of the inaugural Great Debate between pollies and journalists last year, it's back for a second go in what has become one of the Victorian Parliament's most anticipated nights. Baz can hardly think of a better way to raise money for charity. Last year more than $15,000 was raised for the Lions V District Skin Cancer van which provides a free skin testing service across the state. This year all funds will go to Need for Feed to support drought-stricken farmers. The question? That AI politicians would be better than real politicians. The Australian Financial Review's Sumeyya Ilanbey, ABC's Raf Epstein and 3AW's Tom Elliott will take on minister Gabrielle Williams, the Liberal Party's David Hodgett and Jade Benham from the Nationals. Baz reckons the debate is fast on its way to becoming Spring St's own entertainment and networking opportunity with charity the big winner. Tickets here. Credlin: Why didn't the Libs call out Labor's super tax? Read related topics: Daniel Andrews
Irish Independent
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
TV star spotted enjoying a 99 cone in rural Kilkenny during a break from filming
Bazil Ashmawy, also known as Baz, is no stranger to our TV screens as host of DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland, the show that rebuilds people's lives by rebuilding their homes. While in Co Kilkenny, Baz made the trip to Croke's Shop in Mooncoin to sample some of their ice cream. A picture of Baz's visit to shop was posted on social media by Croke's Shop as they wrote 'when the Croke's shop crew met the big build crew. Lovely to meet Baz and the lads, thanks for calling in to try out the cones'. Baz and the big build crew have been filming in Mooncoin for the past week as they build a dream home for the O'Hanlon family who are in desperate need of an adapted house for their little girl, Aoibhínn (9), who has a severe type of spina bifida and hydrocephalus. Along with DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland, Baz is known for the TV show, 50 Ways to Kill Your Mammy, which won the international Emmy Award for Best Non-Scripted Entertainment. Baz has also hosted radio shows on both RTÉ 1 and RTÉ 2fm, among other things.
