'It Will End up Biting You': AB de Villiers Takes a Dig at Bazball After England's Underwhelming Show on Day 1

Legendary Proteas batter AB de Villiers took a dig at England’s ‘Bazball’ after they were bundled out for 246 in the first innings against India in the first Test match. Ben Stokes and Co, who are known for playing with an attacking approach in red-ball cricket, failed to get going in Hyderabad as apart from the skipper, none of the batters troubled the Indian bowlers.

Stokes was the lone warrior for England as he played a 70-run knock and batted alongside the tail to help England get closer to the 250-run mark.

However, in reply, young India opener Yashasvi Jaiswal showed England how it’s done on Indian pitches with a counter-attacking knock. The southpaw smashed a 47-ball half-century and put the England bowlers on the backfoot in the third session on Day 1.

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Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma came out all guns blazing and shared an 80-run stand for the opening wicket off 74 balls.

Meanwhile, De Villiers hailed India’s batting approach and suggested that they identified the moment to get ahead in the game.

“India batting at 8/9 rpo at the start of their innings here. You don’t have to call it brave, bold or bazz ball, it’s literally just playing the situation. Identifying moments in a Test match where u can get ahead in the game is what it’s all about. When the momentum shifts, u adapt and absorb for a period and wait for that moment again,” De Villiers wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Stokes top-scored with 70 after the visitors opted to bat first, sticking to their ultra-attacking “Bazball” strategy to counter India’s renowned home-turf spin prowess.

England had lost regular wickets until Stokes took charge and lifted the total, smashing six fours and three sixes.

He also put together key lower-order stands with Hartley (23) and Mark Wood (11) before he was finally bowled by paceman Jasprit Bumrah after tea in the final wicket of the innings.

De Villiers further took a dig at the England team and said when you don’t respect different moments the game will end up biting you.

“And ultimately, if you don’t respect the different moments and momentum shifts in the game, it will end up biting u, no matter what kind of ball you’re playing,” he added.