England should stick with Crawley – Vaughan

England should hold on to win the opener, according to former captain Michael Vaughan, who criticized Zak Crawley for “frustrating the life out of me.”

Crawley was out for 16 on the first morning of the final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground before leading England in the series run-scorer.

The 27-year-old changed his approach to the finale by moving his guard across the stumps. When he faced Australia’s Michael Neser with a straight ball, he was out.

Vaughan stated on the Podcast Showcase Test Match Special that “he looks so good and then just leaves.”

Only 11 deliveries made during the match for Crawley, who faced only 11 deliveries in the Ashes series, when they faced a pair in the first Test in Perth.

In the second innings of the third Test in Adelaide, he managed a battling 85 and scored 76 and 44 in the second match in Brisbane.

The tourists won their first series victory in Australia for 15 years and reduced the series deficit to 3-1 with the help of the 37-year-old Kent man at the start of England’s run-chase in the fourth Test in Melbourne.

Vaughan, who led England to their famous Ashes triumph in 2005, remarked, “Zak Crawley frustrates the life out of me.”

His levels of concentration are not that high. The big booming drives he played at the start of the series have now vanished. He doesn’t run the ball outside the stump.

However, I watched him today, so it shouldn’t detract from your reputation as a strong opening batter.

In Sydney, Crawley made an impressive 77 in the final Test of England’s previous Ashes tour in 2021-22, which gave him a 77-run lead in the opening match of his professional career.

In 103 Test innings, he has now opened the batting and returned an average of 30.82, which is the lowest among any top-order batsman in test history.

After this most recent series defeat in Australia, Vaughan, who opened with three centuries as England’s Ashes tour opener in 2002-03, believes England should hold on to its lead.

Fans say Crawley has a 30 on average, but Vaughan pointed out that he has a higher average than he is currently giving. Simply put, focus is required.

“I am aware that there is a lot more in the tank, and I believe England must remain with him.”

He said, “The movement he had today was fantastic, but he needs to understand the concentration levels needed for this kind of level to continue and average 40 to 45 over the course of the next two or three years.