Bazball
- Author Nick Hoult and Lawrence Booth
- Narrator David Thorpe
- Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing
- Run Time 11 hours and 6 minutes
- Format Audio
- Genre Ball sports / ball games, Biography and non-fiction prose, Biography: sport, Cricket, Sports and Active outdoor recreation.
Titles Purchased
- 1-5
- 6-10
- 11-15
- 16-20
- Over 20
Price p/Title
- £7.99
- £6.99
- £5.99
- £4.99
- £3.99
Listen to a sample
What to expect
‘Gripping’ Roger Alton, Sunday Times
The inside story of how England transformed the way Test cricket is played.
After one win in 17 by the start of the summer of 2022, England needed something new. For 145 years, Test cricket was played mainly in one way: batters laid a foundation before daring to attack – and, even then, only if circumstances were favourable. Bowlers tried to bowl maidens, calculating that they would eventually force an error. But the old ways weren’t working.
Then came ‘Bazball’, driven by new head coach in Brendon (‘Baz’) McCullum and captain Ben Stokes. What followed was one of the most thrilling revolutions in any sport, as a rudderless and ridiculed England Test team became – almost overnight – cricket’s most talked-about phenomenon. They embarked on a brand of Test cricket that breathed life into an ailing format, breaking records as they went on to win 11 out 13 Tests before taking on world champions Australia in a dramatic Ashes contest that ended 2–2.
Lawrence Booth and Nick Hoult, two of the game’s most respected writers, had a ringside seat for all the action. Their book will reveal how Bazball swept the England dressing room and transformed the team’s fortunes. Told via a mixture of interviews with the protagonists and insights gathered by the authors during their own close-up reporting, Bazball is an unmissable read. As Rob Key said after he appointed McCullum: ‘Buckle up and get ready for the ride.’
Critics Review
-
Two of England’s best cricket journalists tell the gripping story of how England embarked on a new brand of Test cricket
Sunday Times -
Lawrence Booth and Nick Hoult are ideal witnesses to this unfolding drama
Spectator -
Authoritative . . . a fascinating read, and confirms and enhances the reputations of both its authors
Cricketweb -
The popular image of Bazball is that it means T20 cricket in the five-day game. The analysis by two of cricket’s most experienced journalists delivers a much more subtle and meaningful definition . . . this is a thoroughly enjoyable read
Richard Lawrence, Association of Cricket Statisticians -
Entertaining . . . Bazball is not just timely– this summer’s Ashes series plays a major role; there is also impressive context and insight into the main characters
Observer -
This excellent account of the Stokes-McCullum revolution is a welcome opportunity to recall the remarkable triumphs enjoyed by the England Test team over the last couple of years
Choice
More from the same
Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up to get tailored content recommendations, product updates and info on new releases. Your data is your own: we commit to protect your data and respect your privacy.