Much has been written about the exciting rebirth of England’s red ball this summer, but if Brendon McCullum’s team manages to make a record-breaking chase for an exhausted Edgbaston today, the superlatives about “Bazball” will start to fall- if dry.
Joe Root and the imperious Jonny Bairstow organized the chase magnificently on Monday evening after a burst of three fast ports to leave England within walking distance of their target mammoth 378.
They need 119 more to win with seven ports in hand and two seven batters including Bairstow who is in life form.
Alex Lees claimed that England’s “definitive belief” in the other helped drive them towards the pursuit of history.
England have already made some magnificent efforts in the fourth inning this summer, scoring 277, 299 and 296 goals against New Zealand, but if all goes well on the fifth day in Birmingham, they will have set a new maximum watermark.
His goal is higher than any team in England has ever achieved and is worthy of a place in the top 10 chases ever completed in test cricket.
Considerable credit must go to the initial pair of Lees (56) and Zak Crawley (46), who raised the ceiling with a century-long stand marking the agenda. Lees spoke for the team when he claimed that breaking an English record of 359, set by Stokes ’“ Headingley miracle ”during the 2019 Ashes, was never close to discouraging them.
“I think there’s a definite belief in each other, from one to eleven, that we could do that,” he said.
“I think we’re very optimistic about it. You know the goal is there, but just try to put it in the background. It’s not something we’re necessarily talking about.”
Expanding his own approach, which saw him hit the first of eight limits by loading his third ball from the innings, the left-hander said: “My role in a career chase is to put some pressure on bowling players. .Brendon McCullum practically .I just said, “Go do yours. We all know the brand this team wants to play. I just want to express myself.”
The game starts at 10:30 and we will have live updates for you all the time, plus all the post-match reaction.