Former England captain Michael Vaughan has lashed out at Zak Crawley after the opener failed to deliver against India in the second Test match at Edgbaston, Birmingham. England suffered a huge loss of 336 runs as India drew level in the five-match series.
Crawley, who had scored a crucial knock of 65 runs in the second innings at Leeds, could not get going in the second Test. The lanky batter returned with scores of 19 and 0 as he got out to poor shots in both innings. Crawley played away from the body in both innings, which led to his downfall.
Vaughan urged Crawley to tighten his technique like Indian captain Shubman Gill, who aggregated 430 runs in the Test match. The former England captain noted that Gill has improved his defence while facing the inswinging deliveries.
Michael Vaughan wrote in his column for the Telegraph, “It is possible to change. Look at Shubman Gill. He came into this series averaging 35, and four innings later he averages 42,” Vaughan wrote. “He has done that because of his mindset and strategy. He recognised that he was vulnerable to the lbw, and that his hands were away from his body. But he has been tighter, and that has allowed him to bat for long periods with greater control, while still putting the bad ball away.”
“Crawley is so exasperating because he has the game. He plays some glorious shots, and at times makes batting look easy. Having shown he could do it at Headingley, Zak has such a great opportunity to change his approach. But it was one step forward, two back. If he continues to play a shot a ball outside off stump he will continue snicking off.”
Vaughan highlighted that Crawley will face more trouble if he continues with the same batting technique.
“I would love to know why this week, with Bumrah not playing, he suddenly moved two inches outside off stump in his stance. If you do that, you should know that anything outside your eye-line can be left well alone. Instead, he got out in both innings driving with half a bat, with his left foot staying down the middle of the stumps.”
The third Test match between India and England will be played at Lord’s, London from 10th July onwards.
