England defends 'silly, stupid' Bazball approach

England's assistant coach Jeetan Patel has robustly defended his side's aggressive approach after a colossal collapse at Lord's.

After Australia weathered the storm on day one of the second Ashes Test to make their way to 416, the response from England was nothing short of dominant.

As the end of day two approached, England held steady at 1-188. However, three quick wickets fell and at stumps were 4-278.

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Still, England were perfectly poised to take the lead heading into day three just 138 runs adrift of the lead.

What followed was nothing short of a brain explosion as England lost six wickets for a meagre 47 runs to be all out for 325.

England's Ben Stokes walks after losing his wicket, caught by Australia's Cameron Green off the bowling of Mitchell Starc.

Ben Stokes was the first to fall off just the second ball of the day, courtesy of a screamer from Cameron Green off Mitchell Starc's bowling.

Harry Brook slapped at a short ball, which landed in the pouch of captain Pat Cummins.

The tail hardly wagged and Australia had England all out before it could even take the new ball. England is yet to bat for 80 overs in the series.

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Speaking on BBC Sport's Ashes Daily, former England captain Michael Vaughan was critical of the home side's propensity to be sucked into playing the short ball.

"I am intrigued, not just with Harry, but with all the England batters who are taking it on constantly – what are they going to do the next time those fields are set? Because it's going to come in the second innings," Vaughan explained.

"Are the Bazballers going to continue to play this? It is silly, it is stupid. It won't have consistent success. It's already got them in a position in this Test match where Australia are well in front and it's because of the way that England batted."

Josh Hazlewood celebrates after Pat Cummins took a catch to claim the wicket of Jonny Bairstow.

Led by former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, England's fast-paced scoring has been something of a revelation.

However, the cracks in the so-called Bazball approach have started to appear as England edge closer to a second straight loss.

England has been outspoken about its results-driven approach, though that is starting to come under the microscope against the Mace-wielding Australians.

The alarm bells, however, aren't ringing inside the England changing rooms, apparently.

"No one said it was reckless in New Zealand, no one said it was reckless when Joe Root was playing the reverse sweep, so like I said, our guys want to entertain," Patel explained.

Harry Brook plays a short ball that got him out off of Mitchell Starc's bowling.

"I think Brooky's option was to take that. That was the only place he was going to hit four to maybe switch the momentum over. 

"We're about trying to soak up pressure and apply it where we can. Part of trying to apply that was to get them off that length, which is obviously tough to score."

With a lead of 221 runs and having lost just two wickets – effectively three with the absence of Nathan Lyon – Australia are undoubtedly the favourites heading into day four.

Patel said he believes England can have Australia all out for a little over 200, giving England a 300-run-plus total to chase.

In any case, Patel said the approach is "100 percent" more important than the result.

"We've seen in the last year this is how this team operates and wants to get better and better and wants to push boundaries, wants to break more records," he added.

England spin bowling coach Jeetan Patel.

"I think part of that has been having the courage enough to be able to go 'right, let's see how far we can take it'. I think that's the most important thing. 

"Some of the most skillful players in the world are up in that dressing room and they're desperate to show their skills off. Part of that is not getting it right all the time.

"That's the way cricket works. Two teams out there, two very good teams, that want to win an Ashes series.

"The people that do pay 150 pounds to get into this ground, that's what they want to see and I think that's what we're trying to show.

"If we get on the right side of this or we don't, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter in my mind anyway. What does matter is how we go about it. 

"I think we're trying to put them on the back foot but some parts of this game have gone our way and some haven't. Tomorrow is another chance for us."

Day four of the second Test at Lord's continues from 8pm on Nine and 9Now.

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