Criticising England’s “Bazball” philosophy during the drawn Test series against India, Australian cricketing great Greg Chappell has said that “positive cricket doesn’t mean reckless cricket”.

In his column for ESPNCricinfo, Chappell praised the young Indian team for being fearless, but lambasted the English squad, particularly Harry Brook, for failing to read situations which required perseverance instead of flashy stroke play.

“England’s own journey in this series presents a cautionary subplot, one embodied by the brilliant but mercurial Harry Brook, whose virtues I have extolled publicly before. He has time, range, confidence and that rare gift of making batting look effortless. But cricket, particularly Test cricket, is not just about shot-making. It’s about judgement. About recognising when the moment demands attack and when it demands restraint,” said the former India head coach.

England were 301/3 in pursuit of 374 when 26-year-old Brook’s dismissal triggered a collapse on the fourth day of the fifth Test in London which England lost by six runs. “Brook’s dismissal at The Oval, with the game finely poised, was symptomatic of the conundrum that is facing the England setup. The “Bazball” philosophy of fearless, attacking cricket has revitalised their Test side. But it cannot become an excuse to avoid doing the hard yards. All England needed was one batter to hold his nerve. To absorb pressure. Brook went for the glory shot and perished. “There’s nothing wrong with positivity. But positive cricket doesn’t mean reckless cricket. It means confident, calculated risk-taking,” he pointed out.

Chappell said a more restrained approach in challenging match situations would help Brook establish himself as a worthy successor to Joe Root, England’s most prolific run-scorer. “Brook is emerging, and he will learn. But to become the match-winner England need, he must embrace the grind along with the glamour. Root didn’t become England’s most prolific batter by always playing pretty strokes. He earned it with grit. Brook will need to do the same if he is to fulfil his vast potential,” he said.

Giving his overall assessment of the series, Chappell said the showdown would be long remembered for not just the result, but also the “theatre” it created. The two teams engaged in on-field heated verbal exchanges during the hard-fought contests, all of which lasted five days. There were also gritty displays by Rishabh Pant and Chris Woakes, who took the field despite serious injuries to help their teams. “The subplots. The redefinition of roles. Both sides were tested. physically, tactically, emotionally. But it was India who emerged as moral victors. They won clarity. Identity. Purpose,” he said.