While many readers will object to the term Bazball, it does its job in identifying a philosophy to the game that embraces more than simply biffing the bowling, as Lancashire’s curious approach to the fourth day illustrated.Īt the start of the day, the visitors were four down with a handy, if not yet decisive, lead of 179. Ball three: Bazball according to JenningsĮssex and Lancashire, two more of the fancied clubs, faced off at Chelmsford in another match that became a two-innings shootout.

The return fixture will close the season in late September and Pope will miss the majority of matches between now and then as a contracted England player, but this was an emphatic statement of intent from the most savvy club in the land. But Pope simply slaughtered one of the best attacks in the country, registering a fifth century at home against Hampshire as he bazballed over the line. Then Ollie Pope turned the same trick with his No 8, Sean Abbott, and we had a two-innings match on our hands.Īfter a fivefer for Dan Worrall (what an acquisition he has proved to be), Rory Burns walked to the crease knowing his side needed 243 with time only a problem if they got bogged down and needed to consolidate. Ben Brown forged a partnership for the seventh wicket with the estimable Keith Barker to get Hants up to a respectable 254 on a pitch that offered enough movement for bats to be beaten regularly. Spookily, the match played out like a mirror of the Warwickshire v Kent arm-wrestle.īoth first innings had a similar shape. For some observers, the visit of Hampshire felt like a showdown, even this early in the campaign. The 2021 champions lead for now, with 2022 champions Surrey looming large in their rear-view mirror. Ball two: Pope immaculate against Hampshire The Bears breathed a sigh of relief and another nail went into the coffin of that outdated cliche about soft cricket. Joey Evison, an all-rounder with plenty about him, and Conor McKerr, on loan from Surrey and a handy No 10, resisted for two hours but, deep in the last session of the match, Hasan Ali induced an edge in fading light to snare Evison for 99 and send Warwickshire top of Division One. But batters are seldom as obliging second time round and, as soon as Ben Compton found a partner in Jordan Cox, the bowlers felt the miles in their legs and the chill in their fingers. The England opener was in, out, in and out again (LBW Rushworth twice) on the same day after the follow-on was enforced, allowing the home side three whole sessions to secure the nine wickets they needed.

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