England Ashes 2025-26: Zak Crawley – Michael Vaughan’s View
- Former England captain Michael Vaughan has urged England to continue supporting opening batter Zak Crawley, despite a disappointing performance in the recent Ashes series against Australia.
- Speaking after England's series defeat in Australia,Vaughan acknowledged crawley's current Test average of around 30 but expressed confidence that the batter is capable of achieving a substantially higher...
- Vaughan highlighted Crawley's positive movements at the crease, suggesting that improved concentration could unlock his full potential.
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Michael Vaughan Backs Zak Crawley Despite Ashes Series Defeat
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Former England captain Michael Vaughan has urged England to continue supporting opening batter Zak Crawley, despite a disappointing performance in the recent Ashes series against Australia. Vaughan, who scored three centuries as an opener during England’s 2002-03 Ashes tour, believes Crawley possesses the potential to become a consistent Test performer.
Vaughan’s Assessment of Crawley’s Potential
Speaking after England’s series defeat in Australia,Vaughan acknowledged crawley’s current Test average of around 30 but expressed confidence that the batter is capable of achieving a substantially higher average. He attributed Crawley’s struggles to a lack of concentration, rather than a deficiency in technical skill. “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,” Vaughan said, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
Vaughan highlighted Crawley’s positive movements at the crease, suggesting that improved concentration could unlock his full potential. He believes Crawley could average between 40 and 45 runs per innings over the next two to three years if he can address this issue. “I know there is a lot more in the tank and I do think England have to stay with him,” Vaughan stated.
Crawley’s Performance in the 2023-24 Ashes Series
Crawley’s series began poorly, with a pair of ducks in the first Test in Perth, facing just 11 deliveries across both innings. BBC Sport detailed the struggles of the England batting lineup in the opening match.
While he showed glimpses of form in subsequent matches, he failed to convert starts into considerable scores. His overall series statistics reflect this inconsistency. A summary of his scores is provided below:
| test | venue | 1st Innings | 2nd Innings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Perth | 4 | 3 |
| 2nd | Adelaide | 76 | 18 |
| 3rd | Melbourne | 5 | 79 |
| 4th | Sydney | 18 | 38 |
| 5th | hobart | 28 | 11 |