Gayle Says Nothing New About Bazball, Hails Phenomenal Jaiswal
England have no copyright on aggressive batting according to West Indies star Chris Gayle, who insisted it had been around even "years before" he started his career as one of cricket's most celebrated big-hitters.
Dynamic run-scoring has been a key feature of England's 'Bazball' approach to Test cricket under the leadership of coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes.
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But England opener Ben Duckett raised eyebrows when he suggested their methods had inspired India counterpart Yashasvi Jaiswal to score an unbeaten double century in the recent third Test in Rajkot.
Jaiswal, 22, made a blistering 214 not out, including a Test record-equalling 12 sixes in an innings, as India thrashed England by a mammoth 434 runs to go 2-1 up in a five-match series.
It was also the left-handed opener's second double century in as many Tests following Jaiswal's 209 in Visakhapatnam.
Duckett, who himself smashed 153 off just 151 balls in England's first innings in Rajkot, said of Jaiswal: "When you see players from the opposition playing like that, it almost feels like we should take some credit that they're playing differently than how other people play Test cricket."
Gayle, however, told AFP in London in a video conference call on Thursday: "Attacking cricket has been played for years, even before Chris Gayle actually set foot on the international scene as well."
