Let’s Have the Great Zak Crawley Debate One More Time | Ashes 2025/26 | Cricket News Today

Zak Crawley’s Cricket Debate: The Great Controversy Continues

The cricket world once again finds itself embroiled in a familiar debate. With Zak Crawley’s recent pair of ducks during the Perth Test, the conversation surrounding his future with England has reignited. This article delves into the various arguments for and against the inclusion of Zak Crawley in the Ashes 2025/26 lineup.

Averages Don’t Always Tell the Whole Story

Ben Gardner, a seasoned cricket journalist, notes that averages alone may not accurately represent Crawley’s contributions. McCullum, speaking in 2022, highlighted Crawley’s unique skillset: “I look at a guy like Zak and his skillset is not to be a consistent cricketer. He’s not that type of player.” Despite this, Crawley has managed to contribute significantly through match-winning innings, often described as “tone-setting cameos” or half-centuries that lay the platform for big chases.

However, Gardner points out that these contributions are less pronounced in victories.

Of Crawley’s five Test centuries, three have come in draws, and his two centuries in wins were part of innings where at least two other England batters also made hundreds. These statistics suggest that while Crawley does win Tests, it is largely due to the strength of his teammates rather than his individual prowess.

Unlocking Partnerships: The Case for Zak

The argument that Crawley unlocks partnerships around him gains traction with his collaboration with Ben Duckett. Together, they provide different lines and lengths, making opening bowlers wary. According to Duckett himself, “There’s no one I prefer batting with than Zak when we’re in full flow and he’s crunching boundaries at the other end.” This partnership has been praised for its effectiveness, with their 44.83 average ranking sixth among all opening pairs who have made at least 2000 runs.

However, comparisons to historic partnerships, such as those of Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook, reveal that while both teams were successful, the average of 40.96 for Strauss and Cook is third lowest in history. This suggests that while Crawley’s partnership with Duckett may be strong, it does not necessarily set a new benchmark.

The Future of Zak Crawley

As England prepares for the Ashes series, the debate over Crawley’s future remains unresolved. Since his debut in 2019, he has played 60 Tests with an average of 30.96 and a lowly standing among top-six batters. Despite these challenges, Crawley retains backing from the team management.

McCullum’s statement after the first Test, “We believe he is a quality player,” underscores England’s continued faith in him.

Yet, the upcoming Ashes series may be decisive. Three opportunities stand out as inflection points: his performance against Sri Lanka in 2024, his century at Rawalpindi early this summer, and the decision to keep both Crawley and Duckett despite the emergence of other potential options like Joe Root and Ollie Pope.

Crawley’s one-year central contract by the ECB reflects a cautious approach. England will be watching closely during these Tests to see if he can provide the match-winning performances that would secure his place in the national team.

The Ashes series, where everything ends, could be the final chapter in Crawley’s Test cricket career.

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