'Jab tak todenge nahi chodenge nahi' - Fans react as Brendon McCullum says England will 'go harder' on Australia in second Test of Ashes 2023

Brendon McCullum, England's head coach, believes that despite a two-wicket loss to Australia, the first Ashes Test "validated" his team's aggressive approach. He anticipates that his team will "go a little harder" in the upcoming second Test at Lord's. When Zak Crawley hit Pat Cummins through the covers for four runs on the first delivery, England began to attack Australia's bowlers and scored 4.61 runs per over. With 3.20 runs scored per over for the five days and consistent defensive fielding, Australia nevertheless won the game on the last day.

"I think we played our style, which is to try and take the game forward. I thought Australia were happy playing their style as well, which ultimately led to success for them and I'm sure they'll continue with those tactics right throughout the series. I think it's set up to be quite a fascinating contest," ESPNcricinfo quoted Brendon McCullum, England's Test coach, as saying.

"I guess I had a bit of an inkling that they might try and put some sweepers out - and it's hard to argue because they won the Test match, right? I'm sure they'll stick solid to that strategy all the way through, which I think's great because we'll go a little harder and they'll probably stick to their strategy," he added.

"Obviously you'd rather have won the game - that's just the nature of sport sometimes - but I thought the way that we played, I think it's validated our style of play as well. If we'd have got a little bit of the rub of the green then we might have been on the other side of it," he added.

Second Test of Ashes 2023 will be played at Lord’s

Although he thinks England will be more aggressive than in Edgbaston, McCullum does not anticipate either team to make significant changes to their respective tactics in the second Test, which begins on June 28 at Lord's.

"I thought it was a cracking Test match and two very different styles of play. But like a heavyweight boxing match, not everyone has to fight the same. I thought it was a great Test match and I'm sure everyone that watched all around the world, and everyone who was here at Edgbaston as well, absolutely loved it - and that's us included," said the England coach.

"Both teams have got a little bit of time to digest what's unfolded over the last five days and maybe slightly tweak a couple of things along the way. But I'd expect that they'd carry on doing the same sort of playing