Only 14 times has a 350 target been chased down in Test cricket history. And 8 of Baz McCullum’s ‘ballers feature in the list of batsmen who have achieved this multiple times (more than once).
According to MensXP website, 9 batsmen have been involved in successful chases over 350, and 8 of them are Englishmen or recent vintage, specifically Bazballers.
Sri Lankan Upul Tharanga is the only non-Englishman among these buccaneers, who have ensured that no matter how many their bowlers concede and set them stiff targets, England will back themselves to get there.
Captain Ben Stokes and Joe Root have been involved in 3 such chases of over 350, says MensXP India. Besides the recent Headingley one against India, Root had combined with Jonny Bairstow for twin centuries at Birmingham on the last Tour. In the third instance, he was part of the English team that chased 359 and won by a wicket against Australia, after a Ben Stokes century in the target pursuit in 2019. In that Ashes game, England were in dire straits after being shot out for 67 in the first innings.
But MensXP India quotes two other contemporary Englishmen as being part of 2 such successful 350+ chases – Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope (who also scored a ton at Leeds). The others to have managed it in recent past are Jack Leach, Stuart Broad and Jonny Bairstow, twice each, making it 8 out 9 members of England sides.
High strike-rates, greater RPOs and unbridled shotmaking might be the other indicators – and Rishabh Pant and Yashsvi Jaiswal might well fit those criterion, but true Bazballing is at its pinnacle only when their batting lineups can assail tall targets in the 4th innings, in this case over 350.
Upul Tharanga managed it twice for Sri Lankan wins at Premadasa 2017 chasing 388, against Zimbabwe and at Sara Oval 2006 against Siuth Africa getting to 352.
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Of the 37 times 300+ have been chased, England have managed it 6 times, with Bazballers also thrice chasing over 270 (to 299) against New Zealand in 2022.
Australia against whom the two highest chases have been registered, (418 vs WI in 2003 & 414 vs SA in 2008) have chased down 300+ 9 times, and also lost defending it 9 times. They are joint top 350+ chasers alongside England (3 times). West Indies, SL have done it twice, while India, South Africa and Pakistan once each of the 14 occasions.
Live by sword also implies die by sword, and opposition spinners are crucial in denying England 350+ targets in Bazball era. England could not chase down NZ’s 658 with pacers & Santner pulling them back in recent years. Jasprit Bumrah and R Ashwin denied them 399 target at Vizag last time they visited, and Ravindra Jadeja did same for 557 at Rajkot. In an earlier tour in 2021-22, they couldn’t chase 482 at Chennai.
India have chased 300+ thrice and had opponents chase 300+ as many times (3-3).
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Pakistan have chased 300+ four times (4-3), and allowed opponents to get to that target thrice.
Newly crowned WTC champs South Africa have chased 300+ twice (2-5) and 350+ once, but conceded 300+ in 4th innings five times for defeats. New Zealand have never chased 350+ for a Test win in 4th innings, but done 300+ twice. They have never ceded 350+ to opponents either in a chase, but twice for over 300 (2-2).
Sri Lanka have a bold past, chasing 300+ four times, and allowing opponents to assail it only thrice (4-3).
