HomeAll PostEditorialsZak Crawley's slump continues unabated: Averages 24.54 in Tests since July 2024

Zak Crawley’s slump continues unabated: Averages 24.54 in Tests since July 2024

ENG vs IND 2025: Zak Crawley averages 24.54 in Tests since July 2024 – Should England start looking beyond him?

Zak Crawley averages 24.54 in Tests since July 2024. Should England look beyond him?
Zak Crawley has played 57 Tests for England including Lord’s Test  (Images: ©Twitter/X)

Zak Crawley has to count himself among the luckiest opening batters ever to play for England in Test cricket. He has played 57 red-ball encounters for just five centuries and 17 fifties at an average of below 31. 

Among all the openers in history with more than 2500 runs, Crawley has the lowest average of 30.10. The next England batter on the list is their former captain, Michael Atherton, who averaged nearly 40, having opened in 106 more innings than Crawley. 

The right-handed batter has scored 2064 runs in 36 games at an average of 32.25 since April 2022. That’s the second-lowest average for an England batter (no. 1-7) in the Bazball era with a minimum of 500 runs. It was strange how despite finding the right rhythm during the second innings of the Leeds Test against India, he decided to go back to his old method. 

Read More: How can India’s bowlers negate the Jamie Smith threat

Zak Crawley’s same old issues continue 
The Kent batter was excellent in the second innings at Headingley. He was an important part in putting the opening platform with Ben Duckett of an exceptional chase. But he suddenly looked different at Edgbaston and Lord’s. 

At Leeds, Crawley lined up against Jasprit Bumrah with a brilliant technique. Throughout the innings, he kept his feet inside the off stump and just continued playing for the straight deliveries. In a perfect game plan, he left the balls well outside the off-stump. 

But he suddenly and unnecessarily, even in Bumrah’s absence, decided to change his guard. The 27-year-old moved a couple of inches outside the off-stump. That was a huge issue. Once a batter does that, then they should know that anything outside their eye-line can be left comfortably. But Crawley got out in both innings driving the ball at Edgbaston with a half bat as his left foot was on the middle stump. 

At Lord’s, even after a three-day break, he backed the same plan. In the first innings, he got a beautiful delivery from Nitish Kumar Reddy, which hopped in the corridor of uncertainty. Crawley had no clue and he ended up getting an outside edge. 

In the second innings, he saw off the new ball but again made the same mistake. Crawley went chasing after a wide delivery. That happened because he thought he could easily go for the drive, but actually, it was way outside the off stump. To his bad luck, Yashasvi Jaiswal, at the gully, grabbed a fine catch. 

Since Jan 2010, among all the England openers, Crawley has the eleventh-best batting average of 30.10. Surprisingly, he has played the second-most innings (91) among them after Sir Alastair Cook. Before the start of the series, England’s captain, Ben Stokes, expressed that they won’t want a Cook-type batter in the eleven. It could be a tongue-in-cheek but if not, he would look back at the statement.

Read More: Dukes ball becomes ineffective once it loses its shine: What is its impact on game flow 

Is Lord’s the end of Zak Crawley’s Test career?
It’s tough to understand how an England opener has survived 104 innings with an average of just over 30. His first-class average isn’t great either with 7402 runs in 238 innings at an average of nearly 32. For Crawley, it’s about finding regularity in the batting. 

In his career, there were a few wow moments including the 267 against Pakistan in Southampton. He started the Ashes 2023 at Edgbaston with a fine boundary through covers to set the tone. Later, he celebrated 189 at Old Trafford. That’s about it. There is no guarantee that the middle order could put their feet up after a long day in the heat to trust the batting.  

He should take a look at Shubman Gill. The Indian captain started this series against England with an average of 35. Now, in six innings, he has increased the average by nearly 42. Once the Punjab-born found the formula to earn success, he hardly looked back. 

Crawley’s combination at the top with Duckett is vital for the Three Lions. They both are different in their style and also bring the right-left combination. But with 128 runs in six innings of the series, he doesn’t have the currency to buy the ticket for the next clash. 

The England selectors may take a look at the County Championship 2025. Haseeb Hameed is the second leading run-getter of the season in Division one so far with 848 runs in nine innings and a strike rate of over 60. Durham’s Alex Lees has also clubbed 741 runs at a strike rate of nearly 58. 

If Lord’s doesn’t become Crawley’s last Test match, Manchester surely can if he doesn’t improve his technique. A few months ago, he might have dreamt of opening at the Optus Stadium in the Ashes 2025/26. If things don’t go well, he may find himself under a blanket in England’s winter during that period. 

Read More: Why India struggle to mop up the tail in Tests?

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Exit mobile version