Cricket is a constantly evolving game with changing formats and new terms constantly coming into existence, find out the meaning and origins behind three such new cricket terms – Bazball, Brumbella, and Nighthawk
Aside from the traditional words used to describe the game and its situations, cricket or any other sport for that matter often brings out new terms into use.
Bazball, Brumbella, Nighthawk meaning in cricket explained
Call him the "antidote to Bazball" 💪
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#England is revolutionizing Test cricket since McCullum has taken over. First #Bazball: attack only, no defense then #NightHawk: sending Broad to save the Frontline batsmen at the end of the day's play asking him to get 30 off 100 or naught off 1#Ashes2023 pic.twitter.com/XiOwLVCqi0
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The ongoing Ashes Test series, has brought out a certain kind of field placing, termed as Brumbella joining terms like Nighthawk and Bazball in the list of newly coined cricket terms.
Bazball origin and meaning
Bazball is a new cricket term that has become popular over recent months. The term refers to a certain batting approach in Test cricket and involves aggressive and quick runs scores. The term Bazball originated from the nickname of England’s coach Brendon McCullum who was known as Bazz. After Bazz got appointed as England captain, the team started to play a different form of Test cricket.
Bazball involves scoring quick runs in an aggressive manner in Test cricket, with unconventional methods of scoring. Despite the harsh criticism surrounding it from traditional Test lovers, it has gained popularity among the new generation. Moreover, with T20 cricket currently dominating cricket, Bazball has brought a newfound entertainment in Test matches as well.
This new approach to cricket also brings about a sense of enthusiasm among spectators and defeats the age-old version of ‘boring’ Test cricket often used by some fans.
Nighthawk origin and meaning
Nighthawk is a branch of ‘Night Watchman’, featuring a more aggressive version. The night watchman is a type of play where the ‘watchman’, generally a lower order batter, saw out the final few overs of the day. This particular method was a defensive measure to preserve the wicket of a top-order batter at the flag by the end of the day in a Test match.
On the other hand, the Nighthawk is anything involves a lower-order batter out sent out to dismantle the opposition by hitting boundaries and playing aggressive shots. Just recently, England used Stuart Broad in that role with the aim to increase the run rate and release the pressure on the batting team. The style has brought success for teams in the red ball game. However, the Nighthawk plan can also backfire at time.
Brumbella origin and meaning
The term Brumbella is the latest term to come into use, first used in the ongoing Ashes series. During the 3rd day of the 1st Test match, England coined the term after playing a field placing. Using Brumbella, England’s Ollie Robinson picked up the almost unstoppable Usman Khawaja’s wicket.
A Brumbella generally refers to a big cover that protects the entire pitch from rain, like an umbrella. The term is now used to refer to England’s new field placing used during the 1st Test. It features six or seven fielders in front of the wicket in the shape of a half-circle like an umbrella.
The six fielders were from short square-leg to short mid-on in the leg side. They and continued on the off side with a short mid-off to short point. England captain Ben Stokes and bowler Robinson used this tactic to confuse Khawaja and get his wicket.