Former England captain Michael Vaughan has expressed his belief that the national team should continue to support opener Zak Crawley, despite the player’s recent performance frustrations. Crawley began the final Ashes Test as England’s leading run-scorer in the series, but was dismissed for just 16 runs on the first morning at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
In a bid to improve his form, the 27-year-old altered his batting technique by shifting his guard across the stumps. However, he was dismissed lbw by Michael Neser, who delivered a straight ball that Crawley misplayed. Vaughan, speaking on the Test Match Special podcast, noted, “He looks such a good player – and then just gets out. The ball that got him out should not have got him out.”
Crawley’s journey in the Ashes series has been a rollercoaster. He began the series with a pair in the first Test in Perth, facing only 11 deliveries before making a comeback with scores of 76 and 44 in the second Test in Brisbane, followed by a resilient 85 in the third Test in Adelaide. His contribution of 37 runs in the fourth Test in Melbourne proved vital, helping England secure their first victory in Australia in 15 years and reducing the series deficit to 3-1.
Vaughan’s critique focuses on Crawley’s concentration levels, stating, “His concentration levels are not the strongest.” He noted that while Crawley had previously been more aggressive with booming drives, he has since become more cautious, avoiding chasing balls outside off stump. Vaughan believes that Crawley’s dismissal in the final Test should not have happened, especially given his potential as a quality opener.
The Sydney Test marks a return to a ground where Crawley previously scored an impressive 77 runs during England’s last Ashes tour in 2021-22, an innings that was pivotal in kickstarting his career. Over his 103 Test innings, he has averaged just 30.82, the lowest for any player with that many opportunities at the top of the order.
Despite his struggles, Vaughan remains optimistic about Crawley’s future. He stated, “I hear fans around the world saying Crawley averages 30, but there’s a bigger average in him than he’s giving at the moment.” He emphasized that concentration is crucial for Crawley to elevate his game and potentially achieve an average of 40 to 45 over the next few years.
Vaughan concluded by asserting that England should remain committed to Crawley, believing that with proper focus, he can fulfill his potential and become a more consistent performer for the team.
