The word, which describes the aggressive style of play England men’s Test team adopted under head coach Brendon McCullum, has been added to the dictionary by HarperCollins as one of the ten most significant new words of 2023. The definition attributed to the word reads: “a style of Test cricket in which the batting side plays in a highly aggressive manner”.

Asked if he was surprised at the new addition to the dictionary in an interview with cricket.com.au, Labuschagne said: “Oh man, that’s garbage. I don’t know what that is. Honestly, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

‘Bazball’ was coined in 2022 by ESPNcricinfo UK Editor Andrew Miller, shortly after McCullum’s appointment as England Test head coach. Since his appointment, England have 13 out of 18 Test matches which marks a dramatic turn-around from their prior dismal run, in which they won one out of their previous 17 Test matches. The word has also translated to other sports and fields, including politics.

‘Bazball’ in the dictionary? 📖🤔

#CWC23 pic.twitter.com/tlAdju5qVn

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 1, 2023

During the 2023 Ashes series, Labuschagne referred to the way England were playing their Test cricket in a ‘Bazball’ style as beneficial to Australia. Following the opening Test of the series at Edgbaston, Labuschagne said: “Playing that method and those shots are keeping us in the game… That’s the benefit for us the way they’re playing.”

Despite its popularity, McCullum himself has said that he doesn’t like the word, saying last year: “I don’t really like that silly term that people are throwing out there, because there’s actually quite a bit of thought that goes into how the guys manufacture their performances and when they put pressure on bowlers and which bowlers they put pressure on.”

HarperCollins named AI the word of the year, ahead of Bazball, de-influencing, nepo baby, ultra-processed, canon event, debanking, greedflation, semaglutide, and ulez.