Crawley caught behind. Nobody saw that coming. Duckett was a bit unlucky. I can’t see Pope lasting long. Cat on a hot tin roof.
Crawley wicket was a good ball I thought. He didn’t seem particularly settled though. Problem Pope has now is he effectively has to make a start twice (if he makes it to lunch) which is his biggest weakness
Crawley caught behind. Nobody saw that coming. Duckett was a bit unlucky. I can’t see Pope lasting long. Cat on a hot tin roof.
To be fair Reddy bowled him a jaffa. Indeed Reddy the 4th seamer is getting some ridiculous bounce.
Yes he did. But Crawley never really looks settled. My question is when do the selectors say enough is enough? You have an excellent selection of young batsmen like Bethell waiting in the wings. How many chances does Crawley get. His technique is not up to opening.
Pope just looks so suspect outside the off stump. Am surprised they aren't looking at Bethell yet
Because Crawley is the more obvious person to drop and they don't want to do that.
It isn't easy out there (under this regime we rarely score less than 3 off the batt off the first 18 overs) but Pope is one of the most nervous starters I've ever seen and that manifests itself with him trying to get that one off the middle early on. What can't be taken away is that he has scored 2,163 batting at 3 at an average of 42.41. That is by no means hopeless. Crawley, on the other hand, has scored 2,657 runs opening at an average of 30.08 opening. That is poor.
Crawley caught behind. Nobody saw that coming. Duckett was a bit unlucky. I can’t see Pope lasting long. Cat on a hot tin roof.
To be fair Reddy bowled him a jaffa. Indeed Reddy the 4th seamer is getting some ridiculous bounce.
Yes he did. But Crawley never really looks settled. My question is when do the selectors say enough is enough? You have an excellent selection of young batsmen like Bethell waiting in the wings. How many chances does Crawley get. His technique is not up to opening.
Crawley should be dropped. As soon as we find another partner for Duckett, who matches what Duckett needs as a partner. That's an opener, who is tall, right-handed, who gets on the front foot and has a very good running partnership with Duckett. As soon as we find someone who ticks all those boxes, he should be in, instead of Crawley. (Otherwise, of course, there's the risk that bringing in one new opening partner two Tests before the Ashes will be detrimental to the one opener who's showing he's a success). Until we find someone who meets all those criteria, Crawley's still the best fit.
With Crawley and Duckett as openers, I would suggest that - on this year's Test form - we have better openers than Australia.
Pope just looks so suspect outside the off stump. Am surprised they aren't looking at Bethell yet
Because Crawley is the more obvious person to drop and they don't want to do that.
It isn't easy out there (under this regime we rarely score less than 3 off the batt off the first 18 overs) but Pope is one of the most nervous starters I've ever seen and that manifests itself with him trying to get that one off the middle early on. What can't be taken away is that he has scored 2,163 batting at 3 at an average of 42.41. That is by no means hopeless. Crawley, on the other hand, has scored 2,657 runs opening at an average of 30.08 opening. That is poor.
Yeah Pope's starting always worries me , feels like he needs to get one out the middle first ball or it gets all very scratchy.
Crawley just doesn't inspire any kind of confidence, was lucky today he wasn't out earlier with some of those crazy running down the pitch attempts.
I'm so sick of seeing our batsman caught down the leg side to nothing deliveries. Seems to have been quite a very for us this series. Root, Brook, Duckett all come to mind.
Crawley had a great second innings at Headlingly which showed how he can play, the frustrating thing is the inconsistency
He did well but I wouldn't call "65" great. Duckett's 149 was great though. Take the Zimbabwe ton out (who, let's face it, aren't of Test quality) and the last time he hit one was virtually two years ago.
As I've said, Crawley averages 30.08 opening but if one considers that he averages 57.92 in the 9 games and 14 innings when we've drawn, it's not difficult to recognise that he is a flat track bully. In fact, he averages just 29.47 when we've won and 23.28 when we've lost. He is very lucky to have been given as many opportuniites as he has - 103 in total.
Crawley had a great second innings at Headlingly which showed how he can play, the frustrating thing is the inconsistency
He did well but I wouldn't call "65" great. Duckett's 149 was great though. Take the Zimbabwe ton out (who, let's face it, aren't of Test quality) and the last time he hit one was virtually two years ago.
As I've said, Crawley averages 30.08 opening but if one considers that he averages 57.92 in the 9 games and 14 innings when we've drawn, it's not difficult to recognise that he is a flat track bully. In fact, he averages just 29.47 when we've won and 23.28 when we've lost. He is very lucky to have been given as many opportuniites as he has - 103 in total.
The innings was about more than just the score though, the way he played allowed Duckett to play how he did and have a fantastic innings.
Of course he needs to improve and up that average but sometimes an innings score doesn’t sum up how the innings was played or how important it was.
Ultimately if Crawley played how he did in that Headingley innings even 70% of the time we wouldn’t be having this conversation
Yes, well he doesn’t that is the whole nub of it. That is why I say he is not consistent enough. He has talent but is he the answer? No I don’t think he is.
Crawley caught behind. Nobody saw that coming. Duckett was a bit unlucky. I can’t see Pope lasting long. Cat on a hot tin roof.
To be fair Reddy bowled him a jaffa. Indeed Reddy the 4th seamer is getting some ridiculous bounce.
Yes he did. But Crawley never really looks settled. My question is when do the selectors say enough is enough? You have an excellent selection of young batsmen like Bethell waiting in the wings. How many chances does Crawley get. His technique is not up to opening.
Crawley should be dropped. As soon as we find another partner for Duckett, who matches what Duckett needs as a partner. That's an opener, who is tall, right-handed, who gets on the front foot and has a very good running partnership with Duckett. As soon as we find someone who ticks all those boxes, he should be in, instead of Crawley. (Otherwise, of course, there's the risk that bringing in one new opening partner two Tests before the Ashes will be detrimental to the one opener who's showing he's a success). Until we find someone who meets all those criteria, Crawley's still the best fit.
With Crawley and Duckett as openers, I would suggest that - on this year's Test form - we have better openers than Australia.
England also want someone to play in the Bazball style. Crawley moving around the crease to Akash, and charging him, to try and dominate the bowler seems to be how they want him to play.
Everything seems to be geared around the Ashes. Crawley will probably be more effective down under than elsewhere, and that seems to be keeping him in the team.
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My mate has been waiting ages to wear this 😂
EEngland 44 for 2
Crawley or Pope to make way.
It isn't easy out there (under this regime we rarely score less than 3 off the batt off the first 18 overs) but Pope is one of the most nervous starters I've ever seen and that manifests itself with him trying to get that one off the middle early on. What can't be taken away is that he has scored 2,163 batting at 3 at an average of 42.41. That is by no means hopeless. Crawley, on the other hand, has scored 2,657 runs opening at an average of 30.08 opening. That is poor.
Ben McKinney (Durham) is one that I like. Also Muyeye of Kent is very promising.
With Crawley and Duckett as openers, I would suggest that - on this year's Test form - we have better openers than Australia.
Crawley just doesn't inspire any kind of confidence, was lucky today he wasn't out earlier with some of those crazy running down the pitch attempts.
As I've said, Crawley averages 30.08 opening but if one considers that he averages 57.92 in the 9 games and 14 innings when we've drawn, it's not difficult to recognise that he is a flat track bully. In fact, he averages just 29.47 when we've won and 23.28 when we've lost. He is very lucky to have been given as many opportuniites as he has - 103 in total.
Of course he needs to improve and up that average but sometimes an innings score doesn’t sum up how the innings was played or how important it was.
Everything seems to be geared around the Ashes. Crawley will probably be more effective down under than elsewhere, and that seems to be keeping him in the team.