Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has expressed admiration for England’s strategic approach in the ongoing Ashes Test match against Australia at Edgbaston. De Villiers took to Twitter to praise England’s tactics, highlighting their adaptability and branding it as “smart cricket.”
With Australia requiring 281 runs to win on the final day of the Test, de Villiers applauded England’s performance in restricting the visitors to 107 for 3 at the end of Day 4. He emphasized the importance of being able to adapt to different situations and commended England’s ability to do so effectively.
“I never looked at the Birmingham weather leading up to this Test match. The way England played now makes sense. Call it what you want, some say BazBall, I just think it’s smart cricket,” de Villiers shared on Twitter.
De Villiers went on to explain that the best teams are those capable of adjusting their approach according to the circumstances, employing various strategies to give themselves the best chance of victory. He cited England’s bold declaration at 393 for 8 on Day 1, followed by their calculated performance in scoring 273 runs in the second innings.
“The best teams are prepared to adapt and play situations in a way that’ll ultimately put them in a winning position more often than the rest, whether that’s by making bold declarations or playing reverse sweeps a lot, whatever it takes,” de Villiers added.
The former South African captain also drew comparisons between England’s approach and that of MS Dhoni’s Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He emphasized the significance of every individual buying into the team’s philosophy for it to be successful.
“The only way to make it impactful is to have a complete buy-in from every individual, no egos, no stats-driven players, just a full-on buy-in to be the best team in the world. That’s how I see the Eng team play atm. Also saw that with MSD and co. in the IPL. It’s going to be a fascinating final day. Let’s get it going. Aus still in with a chance here, unlikely, but possible,” de Villiers remarked.
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As the match heads into Day 5, the contest remains evenly poised, with Australia requiring 174 runs to secure victory with seven wickets in hand. The outcome of this thrilling encounter will determine which team takes a 1-0 lead in the five-match Ashes 2023 series.
As cricket enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the final day’s play, de Villiers’ words of praise for England’s approach serve as a testament to their strategic acumen and adaptability. Whether Australia can mount a remarkable comeback or England can continue their dominant display, the conclusion of this Test promises to be enthralling for fans worldwide.