Daring declarations, brutal batting and lots of runs: English Men’s Test cricket in 2022

If a week is a long time in politics, then a year is more like a lifetime for English Test cricket

The start of 2022 was pretty bleak for English Test cricket. Before the end of March, we played five matches in Australia and then West Indies. Poor performances and absent leadership resulted in no victories and three defeats. The lowest point of these was arguably the fifth Ashes test in Hobart. Having already lost the series, we

Since the summer, English Test cricket has been almost perfect. Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes have kick started a new era which has so far transpired into nine wins in 10 games. The revolution of Test cricket is still underway, but there have been plenty of memorable moments already and many moments that have changed the way England fans now view their side.

It may have felt as though the entirety of 2022 has been glorious for the red ball format but, believe it or not, we started the calendar year in dreadful form. The 4–0 demolition at the hands of old enemy Australia left the men’s Test team in disarray and in need of a shakeup.

Hopes were relatively high that this could be rectified with an improved performance in the West Indies. Despite some better batting displays, England crumbled in the final Test to lose the series 1–0.

With two Test tours completed, eight matches and no wins, England Test cricket had reached a new low. Wholesale changes were needed and were made in the form of a new Head Coach and a new captain.

Ten Test matches later, Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes have led England to nine wins and three series victories. Even better, there’s rarely been a dull moment as aggressive, confident cricket has made the rest of the world sit up and take note.

There have been lots of excellent moments of ‘Bazball’ so far, almost too many to choose a single stand out. Scoring 500 on the first day of the Pakistan tour with four Englishmen scoring centuries was a big highlight, as was the 250+ partnership between Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow in the win against India at Edgbaston.

For me, however, the stand out highlight under McCullum so far is something that has perhaps gone under the radar. With a 343 run lead on what had been a batter friendly pitch, Stokes declared and tasked Pakistan with a rapid run chase.

In days gone by, England would have tried hard not to lose a match and in doing so would almost certainly end up losing. When Ben Stokes declared, it said to me that England were going to try and force a result- even if it wasn’t in their favour.

It was a bold and aggressive move from Stokes. When Pakistan started their reply, I thought how I wouldn’t be annoyed if they reached their target. England’s captain wanted to try and win and, thanks to a hardened bowling performance, they did. Four wickets each from James Anderson and Ollie Robinson helped them over the line.

2022 was an incredible year for the English men’s cricket team in both red and white ball formats. The games come thick and fast in the new year and with an Ashes series and an ODI World Cup coming up, you can be sure there will be just as many fireworks as this year.