Follow UsEngland have taken the world of cricket by storm in the last 12 months in the red-ball format by adopting an aggressive style of play and won 11 out of their 14 matches since Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes took charge of the side.
They brushed aside Ireland in the one-off Test at the Home of Cricket last week and are gearing up for the much-awaited Ashes series starting June 16.
Ahead of the marquee series, Steve Waugh warned England of their ultra-aggressive style of play against the formidable pace attack of Australia. Bazball, as it is called by the fans and the cricketing pundits, has reaped the rewards against other opposition but will be tested against the Aussies in challenging conditions.
The former skipper believes that England will be exposed if they do not have a Plan B as they try to take the attack to the opposition bowlers in the five-match series.
"That is the big question mark over so-called Bazball. What is Plan B? Have they got a Plan B? If they haven't, then they are going to be found out," Waugh said, as quoted by cricket.com.au.
"They have shown they are good enough to carry this style of cricket off, but the ultimate test will be against a world-class bowling attack, which Australia has got."
"It is exciting, but to me, the jury is out at the moment. Does it hold up under scrutiny against a really good bowling attack in maybe challenging conditions?"
"There is no doubt it won't work all the time, but I think with McCullum and Stokes, they will have the courage to go through with it. They can't chop and change. Have they got a backup plan? I'm not sure. That might find them out."
Waugh's successor, Ricky Ponting, feels Australia need to be prepared for England's rejigged approach and the support of the crowd in order to hand England their first Ashes defeat at home since 2001.
"I've got a few thoughts on what I'd be doing if I was an Australian fast bowler. I think the reason the way England have played for the last couple of years is with this series in mind."
"They've been trying to find a brand of cricket that they can play that's going to win an Ashes series," he added.
The first Ashes Test will start on June 16 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.