Bazball, the phenomenon of being in the zone, and mind power

THE ENGLISH language is dynamic and constantly evolving, and so is the sporting encyclopaedia. The zone, the older sporting concept, is inextricably linked to the newer cricketing concept referred to as ‘bazball’.

How have the fundamentals of these two concepts affected the game of cricket and other sports from a psychological perspective? We have to champion the mind before we become champions!

In layman’s terms, ‘the zone’ or ‘flow’ refers to a state of heightened focus whereby an athlete can derive optimal performance. Being in the zone encompasses total elimination of fear and doubts, and the athlete is emboldened to achieve success with confidence. Thoughts of possible vilification do not enter the psyche while being in the zone. In different sports, athletes may describe it in their own terms, but the underlying principles remain similar: self-confidence and full concentration coupled with engagement. It is then fair to say that being in the zone is more psychological in scope than anything else.

A positive mental space is critical for optimising athlete performance across sporting disciplines. The legendary sprinter Usain Bolt used visualisation and pre-race showboating to settle his nerves. In practical terms, Bolt eliminated distress and thrived on eustress. Isn’t that a paradox, how can stress be good? Unlike distress, which is characteristically associated with negative feelings such as anxiety and discomfort, eustress refers to stress that is perceived as being positive, motivating and beneficial.

Brian Lara, perhaps the greatest batsman to have ever played the game of cricket, gave his views on getting into the zone during the 2017 Cowdrey Lecture.

Lara said, “I believe preparation was the key to getting into a zone...” It is clear that mental preparation and tactical astuteness were critical in Lara’s domination of the world’s best bowlers for many years.

It is noteworthy to look at the link between the zone and bazball, cricket’s new ideology. Bazball is a style of play that centres on playing fearless cricket so that players can fully express themselves in all aspects of the game.

PLAYER-FOCUS APPROACH

In essence, it is a player-focused approach that sheds the traditional conservatism that has marked Test cricket. Bazball is eponymously named after former New Zealand cricketer, Brendon McCullum, whose nickname is ‘Baz’. McCullum and England’s red-ball captain Ben Stokes have used bazball to instantaneously reverse their fortunes in Test cricket.

Prior to bazball, England had won one out of 17 Tests. Since adopting this firebrand approach in the summer of 2022, they have become the most feared Test team. Interestingly, their run rate in Test matches would make ODI teams proud. They have racked up big runs too.

Bazball has accentuated ‘the zone’ through total freedom of expression, confidence bordering on arrogance and unheralded aggression. Some may say that bazball is a byproduct of the zone. For me, they both weave a thread of unity.

The notional concept of bazball has reaped stupendous results for England. This ideology can be applied to other areas of life. The key is to create conditions that are conducive to full engagement and ensure that we strike a balance between challenge and skill level.

Instructively, bazball is not just about batting aggressively, it exemplifies all-round aggression. England are not content with drawing Test matches. Instead, they are painting a masterpiece of revolution.

I have observed a drawback with this approach though.

While scoring quickly in a Test match is applaudable, one must be reminded that Test cricket is really a game of attrition given its duration. Look at it this way, if you are bowled out for 500 runs on a belter of a pitch in 70 overs on Day 1, the opposition could keep you in the sun for the next two days.

Fielding in the sun for prolonged periods is an energy-sapping experience and those tired legs may not hold up well in the second innings. While bazball is revolutionary and entertaining at the same time, it needs to be judiciously applied, bearing in mind the physiological and tactical requirements of playing Test cricket.

Team spirit and camaraderie are also critical in the functionality of bazball. Ironically, former England all-rounder and captain Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff once stated that there is no such thing as team spirit. I disagreed with Flintoff at the time and I still do now. Team spirit seems to be a topic of discussion whenever a team is performing very well or performing woefully. There seems to be no middle ground with this concept. It is clear that this English team has excellent team spirit. They win together; they lose together.

The concepts of the zone and bazball give liberality to the mind. They both create a utopic experience for players and this optimises performance and improves self-confidence. Precocious talent and meticulous preparation are key ingredients in the product called ‘success’. Importantly, the label of success also bears a fine print called ‘mind power’.

Mr Andy A. Spence is a cricket enthusiast who has been following the sport from a very tender age. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Language, Communication & Society and an MA in Linguistics, both at The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus. He can be contacted at andy.spence16@yahoo.com.

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