England may have snatched a memorable win at Lord’s to go 2-1 up in the series against India, but one man, who continues to draw criticism, is opener Zak Crawley.
The 27-year-old right-hander once again failed to convert his start, and legendary English batter Geoffrey Boycott has had enough. His remarks after the Test suggest that Crawley’s place in the side is becoming harder to justify.
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Why is Geoffrey Boycott calling for Zak Crawley's removal from the XI?
Boycott, known for his straight talk, minced no words as he wrote in The Telegraph about Crawley’s repeated failures. The former opener highlighted Crawley’s shot selection and inability to learn from past mistakes, even after playing 57 Test matches.
In the Lord’s Test, Crawley managed 19 and 22 in the two innings. His second-innings dismissal, a reckless front-foot drive to a wide ball, drew harsh reviews. Boycott remarked that Crawley’s mode of dismissals has become predictable and frustrating.
"How many more chances is Crawley going to get? He has learned nothing in his 57 Tests. A waft in the first innings caught behind and a front-foot drive in the second innings to a wide sucker ball caught at gully," said Boycott.
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"It was just a replay of too many of his dismissals. Time to go. Five hundred and an average of 31 is not good enough," he added.
Could Crawley’s Test future be in danger ahead of Ashes 2025?
Boycott went a step further, warning that if England continues backing Crawley, their rivals in the upcoming Ashes, especially Australia’s seamers, will be eager to exploit his weakness.
"Most opposition bowlers can’t wait to get their sweaters off to bowl at him. Can you imagine what the Australian seamers are thinking about this winter’s Ashes series? If Starc doesn’t get you, Hazlewood and Cummins will," said Boycott.
Crawley’s record against Australia doesn’t help his case either. In the 2021–22 Ashes series, he played three Tests and managed only one fifty, which was in Sydney.
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As England prepare for the fourth Test at Old Trafford starting July 23, the pressure is mounting. While Ben Stokes' men are ahead in the series, Crawley’s spot could well be up for debate.