England were playing Bazball in 2005 for that first day at Edgbaston: Michael Vaughan

Michael Vaughan. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Former England Test skipper Michael Vaughan said that England played ‘Bazball’ on Day 1 of the historic 2005 Ashes in Edgbaston. On the first evening of the Edgbaston Test, England were bowled out for 407 in 79.2 overs. The thrilling contest fell in England’s favour as Steve Harmison dismissed Michael Kasprowicz to help the hosts claim a two-run victory.

Vaughan recalled how his side made its mark in the famous series by attacking Australia at Edgbaston. The former England skipper recalled it being similar to the brand of cricket England have been playing under captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum lately.

They scored at a pace of about five runs per over throughout the day, and scaled the 200-run mark in the 41st over and 400 in the 79th, with Jason Gillespie the most economical of Australia’s four bowlers at an economy rate of 4.13.

While speaking as part of a 10-part podcast series from Global – Legends of The Ashes, Vaughan said that he remembered having a team meeting and giving the players the freedom to go and be extremely aggressive with the bat.

“I remember having a team meeting on the Tuesday night and I basically gave the players the freedom to go and be really aggressive with the bat. I said: ‘If Warnie comes on try and hit him for six,'” Vaughan said as quoted by The Cricketer.

We were playing Bazball in 2005 for that first day at Edgbaston: Vaughan

The former cricketer went on to say that England expected Glenn McGrath to play. McGrath was ruled out with an ankle injury sustained due to stepping on a ball during Australia’s pre-match warm-up. Vaughan had instructed his side around the legendary fast bowler and how lethal he could be.

“If McGrath – and we obviously thought McGrath was going to be playing – you know, we can see off that first spell, I think it’s important that we respect that first spell. But when it comes to his second, let’s go for it. We have to be aggressive,” Vaughan added.

The 48-year-old further stated that he did not expect England to get 400 runs in that Test. He also mentioned that they were playing Bazball on that first day at Edgbaston in 2005.

“I didn’t expect us to get 400 in I think it was 80… very much like the modern England thing, the Ben Stokes….we were playing Bazball in 2005 for that first day at Edgbaston,” the former cricketer concluded.