Geoffrey Boycott wondered how many more chances England would give the struggling Zak Crawley before looking for a new opening batter, particularly with the Ashes on the horizon.
Crawley has had dismal form in the present Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, scoring only 128 runs from six innings at an average of 21.33. He has only accomplished one half-century so far. In 57 Tests, England’s opener has scored 3151 runs at an average of 30.89.
Boycott believes the right-handed batter has not learnt much despite being involved in international cricket for nearly five years. The former cricketer believes it is past time for England to send Crawley packing.
“How many more chances will Crawley get?” He has learnt nothing from his 57 tests. A waft caught behind in the first innings, followed by a front-foot drive to a wide sucker ball caught at gully in the second. It was simply a rehash of too many of his dismissals. “It’s time to go,” Boycott wrote in his Telegraph column.
Boycott believes that Australian seamers such as Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins would be overjoyed if they were given the opportunity to bowl to Crawley during the upcoming Ashes series, which begins in Australia later this year.
“Most opposition bowlers can’t wait to take their sweaters off and bowl at him. Can you imagine how the Australian seamers feel about this winter’s Ashes series? If Starc doesn’t get you, Hazlewood and Cummins will,” he added.
Ollie should go back to basic batting: Geoffrey Boycott
Boycott also criticised Ollie Pope, who has been inconsistent recently. The 84-year-old believes Pope is trying too hard to adapt his game to the ‘Bazball’ style. Boycott encouraged the right-handed hitter to focus on the fundamentals and bat based on match situations.
“Ollie needs to go back to basic batting. He needs to assess the situation and bat accordingly – not slavishly to an ideology or how he thinks the captain and coach want him to play,” Boycott wrote.
India
