Brendon McCullum backs struggling England duo to bounce back in Ranchi Test

England faces a crushing defeat in the recent third Test match in Rajkot, as India secured their largest victory in terms of runs in Test cricket history. Following the match, there has been much discussion about England's batting approach, with some commentators criticizing their aggressive style.

Two players who are under severe scrutiny are Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root. Bairstow and Root have experienced challenging form in the current Test series against India, scoring 102 and 77 runs respectively. However, head coach Brendon McCullum has expressed confidence in their ability to bounce back, emphasizing their prior successes and potential for positive contributions in the upcoming Ranchi Test.

“Bairstow's not scored the volume of runs he would have wanted and a couple of times he’s got out kind of mildly for someone who’s got the power game Jonny’s got. I don’t have concerns over him as we know that a top-quality Jonny Bairstow is as good as anyone in any condition. So from our point of view, we’ve got to keep on giving him confidence and block out a lot of the external noise; keep him present and focused on what he’s trying to achieve and I’m sure Jonny will come good," he said, backing the aggressive Bairstow to bounce back. 

"The law of averages suggests..."

Head coach Brendon McCullum responded to criticism surrounding Joe Root's dismissal via a ramp shot against Jasprit Bumrah, stating that any batting method involves the risk of dismissal. He highlighted that Root could have been out playing a more traditional defensive or driving shot as well. McCullum then emphasized Root's improved statistics since the team adopted a new aggressive style and expressed confidence in his ability to overcome this challenging period.

“It’s Joe Root, crikey. I mean, seriously? The law of averages suggests he’ll fill his boots in the next two. You can get nicked off defending one or trying to drive one through the leg side. I would say that his statistics in the last 18 months or so, whilst people see a shot like that and they go ‘Oh, Joe Root is struggling to deal with this new regime but have a look at the numbers. He’s averaging higher. He’s striking at a higher rate. His impact on the game is still very, very significant," he stated.