A fresh chapter in Test cricket is about to begin. On June 20, India and England will lock horns in a much-anticipated five-match Test series at Headingley, Leeds.
The spotlight will be on India’s new-look squad led by Shubman Gill. With senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and R Ashwin having recently retired, India will aim for a solid start in the 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle.
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While India come in with a point to prove after recent Test struggles, England will continue their aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach under coach Brendon McCullum. But how well has Bazball really worked for England in their home Test series? Let's take a closer look.
How have England fared in each home Test series under McCullum?
Brendon McCullum took over as England’s head coach in mid-2022. Since then, England have played an aggressive brand of Test cricket known as 'Bazball'- fearless batting, bold declarations and ultra attacking intent.
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But has that approach worked on English soil? Let’s look at the series wise results so far:
| Opponent | Series Result | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | England 3-0 (3) | 2022 |
| India | Drawn 2-2 (5) | 2022 (only 1 match under McCullum, which England won) |
| South Africa | England 2-1 (3) | 2022 |
| Ireland | England 1-0 (1) | 2023 |
| Australia | Drawn 2-2 (5) | 2023 |
| West Indies | England 3-0 (3) | 2024 |
| Sri Lanka | England 2-1 (3) | 2024 |
| Zimbabwe | England 1-0 (1) | 2025 |
Under McCullum’s guidance, England have won every home series except the Ashes, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
What do the overall numbers say about Bazball at home?
England's overall Test record at home since McCullum became coach shows a strong win rate. They have won three out of every four Tests they've played on English pitches under the Bazball model.
| Total Matches | Wins | Losses | Draws | Win Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 75.00% |