England opener Ben Duckett has robustly defended his team's aggressive 'Bazball' strategy following a tense third day of the Test series against India, where tempers threatened to boil over at times.
Duckett Unapologetic About England's Approach
The left-handed batsman, who top-scored with 153 in England's first innings, dismissed suggestions that the tourists' ultra-positive approach had crossed the line into recklessness. "We've been playing this way for two years now and it's brought us tremendous success," Duckett stated.
His comments came after several heated moments in the field, including an exchange with Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin that required umpire intervention.
Tongue's Fiery Spell Adds Spark
The match saw England fast bowler Josh Tongue deliver a particularly aggressive spell, striking India captain Rohit Sharma on the helmet and engaging in verbal exchanges with several batsmen. "That's Test cricket," Duckett remarked. "There's always going to be tension when two top teams are competing hard."
Controversial Dismissal Mars Play
The day's play wasn't without controversy as England felt aggrieved by Zak Crawley's dismissal, given out caught behind despite inconclusive replays. This decision appeared to further raise temperatures between the sides.
Series Poised for Dramatic Finish
With the match and series delicately balanced, Duckett promised more of the same attacking intent from England. "We didn't come here to play safe cricket," he declared. "This is how we believe we can beat India in their own conditions."
The fourth day promises more fireworks as England seek to level the series, while India look to capitalise on their first innings lead in what has become an increasingly feisty contest between two of cricket's heavyweight nations.
