Ephemeral Bazball leaves Cricket Australia with more tears than cheers

England landed in Perth on November 10 with a halo. Though they had not won a series overseas other than Pakistan and New Zealand in the Bazball era, they had bulldozed opponents at home with their ultra-aggressive approach.

Under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, England decided to ram into opponents like a peregrine falcon strikes its prey mid-air, using its talons to leave it dizzy.

However, what they failed to realise was that Bazball wasn't immune to change in conditions and needed to be like water, exhibiting fluidity, to be the conqueror of all.

Despite repeated calls from the "has-beens" to play more warm-up games, Stokes and his men engaged in a solitary three-day fixture against England Lions at Lilac Hill and announced their readiness for the Ashes.

However, their aura evaporated in the heat of Perth as the sun came blazing down at the Optus and so did Mitchell Starc, with a spring in his stride, launching cannon balls at the visitors.

Starc's 10/113 and a herculean effort by Travis Head laid Bazball to rest inside two days amid the cacophony of a deafening and arguably the biggest build-up to an Ashes series. Sledged and humbled by the Aussies, England broke character and relinquished Bazball in just 11 days - equaling their shortest ever Ashes defeat down under.

Cricket Australia feels the financial sting as Bazball derails revenue projections

Having announced an AUD$11.3 million deficit during its annual general meeting at Melbourne headquarters on October 30, Cricket Australia looked at the 2025-26 Ashes as an opportunity to refill its coffers. 

A record footfall on the first two days of the Ashes opener saw 101,514 spectators turn up, surpassing the record set during the 2024 Perth Test between India and Australia, which attracted 96,463 across four days.

However, England's abject surrender at the Optus on day 2 meant that Cricket Australia suffered losses close to AUD$5 million (US$3.3 million) as they had to refund day three tickets, which was expected to be another sell-out.

While the Perth Test was a tough pill to swallow, another two-day finish in the Boxing Day Test at the 'G' may prove to be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

As per a report by The Age, Cricket Australia has incurred an estimated $25 million loss in revenue due to the premature end to the Boxing Day Test with England taking the honours by four wickets.

After a record-breaking turnout (94199) on day 1, the Boxing Day Test was supposed to garner similar interest had it lasted the distance. But England's frenzied pace of play has left Cricket Australia facing a huge revenue shortfall.

If the New Year's Test at the SCG also meets the same fate as Perth and Melbourne, then it may compound Cricket Australia's loss of sales in tickets and food items, and the broadcasters may also have to refund money to sponsors.