DEREK PRINGLE

This Ashes is Bazball’s big trial in the court of cricketing opinion though finding hard evidence of it in the opening stages of the Edgbaston Test ended up like a game of hide and seek, or did until a sharp, collective, intake of breath was heard around the shires following Ben Stokes declaration of England’s first innings for 393 for eight off 78 overs.
We have come to expect bravado watching this England team, as well as the unexpected, yet nothing so far could have prepared us for a declaration on the opening day of a Test match, especially when Australia is the opponent...