According to Australian off-spinner Nathan Lyon, England has changed its strategy for playing Test cricket and is now more focused on winning matches than amusing the crowd. His comments precede Australia’s hosting of the much awaited Ashes later this year.
Recently, England and a determined Indian team drew a five-match Test series 2-2. The Three Lions wasted a chance to win the series and get off to a strong start in their World Test Champions (WTC) 2025–2027 campaign when they lost the last Test at The Oval by six runs.
Nathan Lyon did point out that England has some dangerous players in their lineup, like the captain Ben Stokes and the unbeaten Joe Root, who can win games on their own.
They’re playing cricket that way, and I’m perfectly okay with it. It looks like it will be an incredible summer. Their strategy has somewhat changed, in my opinion. Their cricket team has a few standout players who can win matches by themselves.
“These guys, Ben Stokes, and Joe Root,” Nathan Lyon remarked, quoting The Sydney Morning Herald.
However, it appears to me that they have completely altered their strategy and are now attempting to consider strategies for winning cricket matches rather than only entertaining. Additionally, they have recently engaged in some respectable cricket matches,” Nathan Lyon continued.
With 537 runs in nine innings at an incredible average of 67.12, Root finished as the second-highest run scorer against India. Over the course of the series, he hit three hundreds. In contrast, Stokes averaged 43.43 and 25.24 in the two departments, scoring 304 runs and taking 17 wickets in four games.
Since they won the Ashes 3-1, England will have a difficult time winning a Test match in Australia for the first time since January 2011. Under Stokes’ direction, England drew 2-2 at home in the previous Ashes. Australia won the series in 2021–2022, hence they presently have the coveted urn.
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