We review the recently concluded five-Test series between England and Australia that ended 2-2 - with Australia retaining the Ashes. It was a series defined by England's 'Bazball' approach to batting - though that undersells how well Australia's batters resisted English bowling and how well Australia bowled in largely batting-friendly conditions. https://ko-fi.com/81allout Talking Points: A neutral view of the Ashes - and how it is hard to pick a team to support The limits of Bazball - and why England's recent success stems from their bowling depth  Australia's bowlers adjusting to the flat pitches and England's risk-taking Why did England not want to prepare seamer-friendly pitches at home and capitalise on their big strength? Stokes v Starc on the final morning at Lord's The cult of Bazball - and how it fits in well with the English cricket establishment's exceptionalism Mark Wood's pace and Nathan Lyon's absence The effect of Bazball on England's bowling attack Stuart Broad's cinematic goodbye  England's chances in the five-Test series in India next year Participants: Siddhartha Vaidyanathan (@sidvee) Mahesh Sethuraman (@cornerd) Kartikeya Date (@cricketingview) | Substack | ESPNcricinfo page Ashoka (@ABVan) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Buy The Summer Game by Gideon Haigh (recently republished by 81allout) India (hardback) | India (paperback) | India (e-copy) Australia (paperback, e-copy) USA (hardback, paperback, e-copy) UK (hardback, paperback, e-copy) Canada (hardback, paperback, e-copy) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Related: Why did Bazball fail to regain the Ashes - Kartikeya Date - Cricketingview Substack Stokes and McCullum want to save Test cricket but we must look beyond Big Three - Jonathan Liew - Guardian England 'wanted to pick Wood' but settle for Tongue in all-seam attack - Matt Roller - ESPNcricinfo  Bazball: a cult of bruised masculinity where you win even if you lose - Barney Ronay - Guardian Mark Wood and the primal theatre of pure pace - Ben Gardner - Wisden