Former English cricket Sir Geoffrey Boycott urged Zak Crawley to be eliminated from the national party in a series of disappointment. Boycott, known for his sharp cricket findings, expressed his concerns after the fighting of the young opener continued in the third test against India with the Lord.
Crawley, 27, was regular in the English team since his debut in 2019. Despite the promising beginning of his international career, his form remained inconsistent, and recent displays raised serious doubts about their team’s place. After the 65 in the opening test in Headingley, Crawley has since noted the score of only 19, 0, 18 and 22. His latest release in the second shift at Lord – free -hand drive – was particularly frustrating, which again revealed his technical weaknesses.
In his column for Telegraph, the boycott was particularly critical of Crawley, that after 57 tests he learned from repeated errors. He pointed out that Crawley was susceptible to similar types of release, and his free shots often lead to his fall. Boycott wrote:
“How many other chances get Crawley? In his 57 tests, nothing learned. In the first shifts he caught up in the first shifts and in the second shift on the wide suction captured in Gully.
Boycott’s notes reflect growing frustration surrounding Crawley’s place in the team. With the average batting of only 31 and only five centuries to his name, the former English opener believes that these statistics do not justify Crawley’s ongoing selection. The pressure is growing and Boycott insists that England cannot afford to carry players who continues to consistently.
The timing of Boycott’s comments is particularly important because England is preparing for the highly anticipated Ashes series against Australia at the end of this year. He warned that Australian fast -mounted pitchs enjoy the prospect of bowling to Crawley and emphasize the danger that is similar to Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.
“Most of the opposition championships can’t wait to get to the sweaters. Can you imagine what Australian sailors think of this Ashes winter series? If Starc doesn’t get you, Hazlewood and Cummins will be.”
Crawley had previously faced an Australian attack during the Ashes 2021-22 series, where his only remarkable contribution was half a century in Sydney. England will need more than sporadic performances if they are to compete against the ruthless Australian party.
Boycott also turned his attention to another young English dough, Ollie Pope. While the Pope showed more promising than Crawley, Boycott suggested that Surrey’s dough could be too devoted to the aggressive philosophy of “Bazball” that promotes risks at demise. He believes that the Pope must be more situated and avoiding the ruthless shot.
“Ollie must return to the basic launch. He must assess the situation and bat accordingly – not slavely to ideology or how he thinks the captain and coach want to play,” Boykot wrote.
When England looks forward to the fourth test against India, starting on July 23 in Manchester, they hope to be bounce back from their recent fighting. Given that the series is currently ready for 2-1 in favor of England, Crawley and the Pope will be under intensive control because they are trying to strengthen their places in front of the ashes.
As Boycott says concisely, England needs more from its Supreme Order, if it is to attack Australia in what it promises to be a sharply attacked series at the end of this year. Time is coming to turn the crawley things.
– ends
Published:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
16 July 2025
