The English cricket scene has been abuzz with a fresh wave of enthusiasm, thanks to the daring approach brought in by Brendon McCullum and skipper Ben Stokes.
This vivacious strategy, which became synonymous with the summer, has not only captured imaginations but has also cemented its place in the English lexicon with its induction into the Collins online dictionary.
Characterized as “an audacious approach to Test cricket characterized by bold, attacking batting strategies,” ‘Bazball’ draws its quirky moniker from England’s Test coach Brendon McCullum’s affectionate nickname, ‘Baz.’
McCullum’s strategy since his appointment in May 2022 has been crystal clear: bat bravely, take on the bowlers with gusto, and pile up the scoreboard at lightning speed.
The term ‘Bazball’ was whipped up by ESPN Cricinfo’s Andrew Miller, riffing off McCullum’s nickname. It swiftly transitioned from a witty coinage to a staple in cricket chatter.
While ‘Bazball’ brought a summer of thrills and spills to England’s cricket enthusiasts, it didn’t ensure that the coveted Ashes trophy made its way back home.
The word not only earned a spot in the digital pages of Collins but sparked a wave of debate, with Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne notably dismissing it as “nonsense.” Yet, its impact was undeniable, as ‘Bazball’ was a strong contender for the 2023 Word of the Year, ultimately conceding the spotlight to ‘AI’.
Joining ‘Bazball’ on the list of potential words of the year were eclectic and trendy terms such as canon event, debanking, deinfluencing, greedflation, nepo baby, semaglutide, ultraprocessed, and Ulez.
The shortlisting process at Collins harnesses a colossal 20-billion-word database, scanning for linguistic trends and emerging jargon across a vast spectrum of sources—from novels to news articles, websites to social media, on a global scale.
Sport Newes Center reports that Collins boasts a robust selection mechanism. “Each word we observe from the extensive array of English usage samples undergoes meticulous review before we consider it for the next print edition of the dictionary. It’s a dynamic, ongoing endeavor to stay up-to-date,” says a Collins spokesperson.
And with that, ‘Bazball’ is not just a fleeting fad but will be etched in ink in the forthcoming printed edition of the Collins Dictionary, immortalizing England cricket’s latest chapter.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Bazball
What does ‘Bazball’ refer to in cricket?
‘Bazball’ is a term that describes an aggressive style of Test cricket, where the batting team aims to dominate and score quickly. It’s named after England’s Test coach Brendon McCullum, whose nickname is ‘Baz’.
Who coined the term ‘Bazball’?
The term ‘Bazball’ was coined by ESPN Cricinfo journalist Andrew Miller, inspired by the nickname of England’s Test coach, Brendon McCullum.
Has ‘Bazball’ been officially recognized in the English language?
Yes, ‘Bazball’ has been officially recognized with its inclusion in the Collins online dictionary and is slated to appear in the printed version in the next edition.
What was the reaction to ‘Bazball’ being added to the Collins dictionary?
While ‘Bazball’ was accepted into the Collins dictionary, Australian batter Marnus Labuschagne criticized its inclusion, calling it “garbage.” Nonetheless, it reflects the significant impact the term has had on cricketing culture.
Did ‘Bazball’ win the 2023 Word of the Year award?
No, ‘Bazball’ was shortlisted for the 2023 Word of the Year award but lost out to ‘AI’. It was still notable for being part of such a distinguished list.
More about Bazball
- Bazball Defined
- England’s Aggressive Cricket Strategy
- McCullum’s Impact on English Cricket
- 2023 Word of the Year Contenders
- Collins Language Monitoring
- Marnus Labuschagne’s Reaction to Bazball
6 comments
‘garbage’ is putting it mildly, Marnus knows what’s up, this is test cricket not some hit and giggle fest
honestly i’m not even surprised, McCullum’s got England playing like its a T20 bash every test match…wild times
since when did cricket terms start making it into the collins, what’s next ‘googly’ as word of the year haha
spotted a typo in the article, ‘praised’ should be ‘prasied’… keep an eye out editors, our language deserves the best care!
missed the mark here, ‘AI’ over ‘Bazball’ for word of the year? c’mon, the influence of tech is old news, Bazball’s the fresh buzzword on the street.
lol ‘Bazball’ in the dictionary now, that’s kinda epic but seriously who comes up with these words