Adam Voges predicts Bazball will infiltrate Australian cricket as early as this summer

It stopped the Aussies from taking home the Ashes, and now one Australian Test great warns it might make its way to our shores this summer.

Western Australia coach Adam Voges predicts we’ll see “Bazball” make its way Down Under this year which could result in one of the most unpredictable and exciting seasons in Sheffield Shield history.

The attacking philosophy created by England coach Brendon McCullum has the potential to revolutionise Test cricket, with the English batters going after the game in the recent Ashes series while they weren’t afraid to come up with funky fields in a bid to unsettle Australian players.

Bazball has created plenty of intrigue overseas, and while it didn’t result in England reclaiming the Ashes, Voges says the style of play will likely filter down to Australia, with teams set to adopt a more attacking approach.

Western Australia head coach Adam Voges thinks Australian states will implement Bazball. (AAP Image/Gary Day)

“I think we’d be remiss to think that it’s not going to come into domestic cricket in Australia in some form,” Voges told the Willow Talk Cricket Podcast.

“It’s just different, isn’t it? It’s not something we’ve seen before.

“We’ve seen England play it for 12 months in the lead-up to the Ashes, so I guess I’m not surprised in the way that they took the game on.

“To define Bazball, it’s just ultra-positive cricket, isn’t it? It’s looking to put pressure back on the opposition to an extent that we haven’t seen before in the longer form of the game.”

Voges says T20 cricket has made it easier for Test players to adopt the strategy and says there’s “every chance” Bazball filters down to domestic cricket in all formats in Australia this summer.

“I think naturally with the evolution of T20 cricket and guys playing more and more of it, I think we’ve seen small changes in the way the longer form has been played, but the England team has just accelerated that in the way they’ve gone about it,” he said.

“Is it sustainable? I guess time will tell.

“You could see there were two really clear and different game styles from both the teams and we ended up with a 2-all draw. That’s not to say that one’s better than the other.

“Does it then filter down to domestic cricket? There’s every chance and I think it will.

“We’ve seen it already in the county game over there that the run rates are a lot higher and no doubt everyone in Australia, or who’s involved in Australian cricket, has been glued to their TVs during that Ashes series.”

Ben Stokes’ Bazball tactics kept Australia from winning the Ashes. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)

Western Australia doesn’t need to change their tactics too much given they won the Sheffield Shield final last season.

But Voges says his side will definitely consider using elements of Bazball this year, something that might have to be fast-tracked if other sides use the tactic against them.

“In terms of the way we’re going to go about it, we’ll sort of talk about that a little bit closer to the time. In a pre-season phase like we are at the moment, you’re preparing for all forms of the game,” he said.

“And again, it’s a mentality switch as much as anything. It’s that ability to play a bit more high-risk cricket knowing that you’ve got more time but equally fast forwarding and pushing the game forward so that we are seeing more results in four-day cricket.

“I think conditions play their part and whether they’re conducive, but being able to work it out live and play the game live will be an important part, but equally, we’ve got to be prepared if other teams are coming at us with it as well.”