The Ashes: Why England will double down on 'Bazball' culture

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If Ben Stokes was hurting from defeat, he wasn't showing it.

"It's very exciting to know that the way in which we are playing our cricket actually couldn't be more perfect for the situation we find ourselves in - we have to win these three games to get this urn back," said the England captain after his side's 43-run loss in Sunday's second Ashes Test at Lord's.

For Stokes, the key to overcoming the 2-0 series lead which Australia have established lies in one place: the mind.

"We'll keep on giving every player the best chance to be completely clear in their head about what they want to go out and do," he said.

Others are not so sure about the clarity of England's thinking. Former England skipper Michael Vaughan called the team's first innings at Lords "stupid",, external whilst another of Stokes' predecessors, Michael Atherton, said what he saw "was not brave or bold" but instead just "bad cricket"., external

The freedom which Stokes and Test coach Brendon McCullum have granted their players is no surprise. Since the duo ed forces in May 2022, phrases like 'fear of failure' and 'pressure to perform' have been cast aside.

It is a culture change that has helped England go from winning one in 17 Test matches prior to the pair teaming up, to 11 victories in their past 15 red-ball games, playing a brand of cricket that may yet redefine the game.

The Test side's run rate in 2022 was the highest the format of the game had seen for 112 years. Millions of fans have been captivated by the style of play on show at Edgbaston and Lord's.

However, beneath the soundbites and beyond the squad's figureheads lies a more complex story.

The team's transformation has been powered by those behind the scenes, as much as the front-of-house figures.

From psychologically preparing young players for the rigours of an Ashes series to moving away from the drill-sergeant mentality of previous squads, this is how the 'team behind the team' have helped create an exciting, new culture - which, in the next three matches, faces its toughest test yet.

As Stuart Broad steams into bowl, watched studiously by Stokes and McCullum, a less familiar member of England's camp looks on from behind the nets.

Jon Marzetti's typical working day seems like a cricket fan's dream. The sports psychologist spends most of his time on or around the training pitch, locked in conversation with the likes of Broad, Stokes and McCullum.

It is where 90% of his performance-focused work - speaking to players about elements such as focus and confidence or advising the coaching team on the best way of putting their message across - is conducted.

Marzetti's arrival at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) coincided with Stokes and McCullum ing forces in May last year, helping them - along with Marzetti's back-room colleagues - to change the Test set-up.

"Starting at the same time as Baz and Stokes took over was really helpful," said Marzetti, speaking before this summer's Ashes.

"It allowed us to have conversations like, 'What do you want this place to feel like, what do you want people to experience playing for England">