England Cricket 2025

Pelling1993 · July 10

The only slight anomaly with Crawley is his record vs the Aussies which is pretty decent (average 43). His style will also massively help out in Oz.

Addick Addict · July 10

fenaddick said:

Addick Addict said:

fenaddick said:

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.

He's has 103 innings. I agree about the "sometimes" but the "sometimes" have been very, very few compared to the numerous failures.

MarcusH26 · July 10

I think ultimately Key and Baz have too much faith in Crawley to drop him

Shame they wasted the Zimbabwe test on not looking at the other options.

North Lower Neil · July 10

fenaddick said:

Ultimately if Crawley played how he did in that Headingley innings even 70% of the time we wouldn’t be having this conversation

Thought he was pretty lucky at Headingley though - wasn't by any means a chanceless 65.

Wasn't like Pope in the first innings who looked really good.

Addick Addict · July 10

Pelling1993 said:

The only slight anomaly with Crawley is his record vs the Aussies which is pretty decent (average 43). His style will also massively help out in Oz.

His average in Australia is 27.66. His scores there have been 12, 5, 18, 77, 18 & 36.

Chizz · July 10

Opening partnerships this year
Crawley and Duckett 490 runs at 81.66
Khawaja and Head 162 at 54.00
Khawaja and Konstas 130 at 21.66
Kawaja and Labuschagne 40 at 20.00

There's something to be said for not chopping and changing.

Bedsaddick · July 10

Pelling1993 said:

The only slight anomaly with Crawley is his record vs the Aussies which is pretty decent (average 43). His style will also massively help out in Oz.

If he's still in the team and he opens in Australia we deserve to lose. Enough is enough

DennisBooth · July 10

Maybe dropping Crawley now is not the right thing to do with Australia on the horizon. But what if he fails in every Test against India? Do we still take him as he is so out of form? As AA says, his scores in Australia have not been great.

CHG · July 10

Agree, too late to find a replacement for Crawley now. We should have been testing out a new partner for Duckett from the Zimbabwe test…

DennisBooth · July 10

Chizz said:

Opening partnerships this year
Crawley and Duckett 490 runs at 81.66
Khawaja and Head 162 at 54.00
Khawaja and Konstas 130 at 21.66
Kawaja and Labuschagne 40 at 20.00

There's something to be said for not chopping and changing.

There is also something to be said for reacting quickly. You can massage figures any way you like. I can produce a set of figures that completely contradict yours.

Chizz · July 10

DennisBooth said:

Chizz said:

Opening partnerships this year
Crawley and Duckett 490 runs at 81.66
Khawaja and Head 162 at 54.00
Khawaja and Konstas 130 at 21.66
Kawaja and Labuschagne 40 at 20.00

There's something to be said for not chopping and changing.

There is also something to be said for reacting quickly. You can massage figures any way you like. I can produce a set of figures that completely contradict yours.

I'm sure you can. But the point remains that, with Crawley and Duckett as an established opening partnership, Australia face significant questions still on who their openers will be.

MarcusH26 · July 10

Chizz said:

DennisBooth said:

Chizz said:

Opening partnerships this year
Crawley and Duckett 490 runs at 81.66
Khawaja and Head 162 at 54.00
Khawaja and Konstas 130 at 21.66
Kawaja and Labuschagne 40 at 20.00

There's something to be said for not chopping and changing.

There is also something to be said for reacting quickly. You can massage figures any way you like. I can produce a set of figures that completely contradict yours.

I'm sure you can. But the point remains that, with Crawley and Duckett as an established opening partnership, Australia face significant questions still on who their openers will be.

I'd say the whole Aussie top order bar Smith is probably in flux. Their top 3 could be absolutely anything. Don't think Marnus is guaranteed even.

blackpool72 · July 10

Chizz said:

DennisBooth said:

Chizz said:

Opening partnerships this year
Crawley and Duckett 490 runs at 81.66
Khawaja and Head 162 at 54.00
Khawaja and Konstas 130 at 21.66
Kawaja and Labuschagne 40 at 20.00

There's something to be said for not chopping and changing.

There is also something to be said for reacting quickly. You can massage figures any way you like. I can produce a set of figures that completely contradict yours.

I'm sure you can. But the point remains that, with Crawley and Duckett as an established opening partnership, Australia face significant questions still on who their openers will be.

Just because Australia are struggling with their opening partnership 's doesn't mean we can't improve ours.
The two things are not related.

fenaddick · July 10

MarcusH26 said:

Chizz said:

DennisBooth said:

Chizz said:

Opening partnerships this year
Crawley and Duckett 490 runs at 81.66
Khawaja and Head 162 at 54.00
Khawaja and Konstas 130 at 21.66
Kawaja and Labuschagne 40 at 20.00

There's something to be said for not chopping and changing.

There is also something to be said for reacting quickly. You can massage figures any way you like. I can produce a set of figures that completely contradict yours.

I'm sure you can. But the point remains that, with Crawley and Duckett as an established opening partnership, Australia face significant questions still on who their openers will be.

I'd say the whole Aussie top order bar Smith is probably in flux. Their top 3 could be absolutely anything. Don't think Marnus is guaranteed even.

He isn’t guaranteed at all, completely dropped for WI series. Green hasn’t looked any better there though. Lots of bat offs in the early round of the Sheffield Shield

Chizz · July 10

blackpool72 said:

Chizz said:

DennisBooth said:

Chizz said:

Opening partnerships this year
Crawley and Duckett 490 runs at 81.66
Khawaja and Head 162 at 54.00
Khawaja and Konstas 130 at 21.66
Kawaja and Labuschagne 40 at 20.00

There's something to be said for not chopping and changing.

There is also something to be said for reacting quickly. You can massage figures any way you like. I can produce a set of figures that completely contradict yours.

I'm sure you can. But the point remains that, with Crawley and Duckett as an established opening partnership, Australia face significant questions still on who their openers will be.

Just because Australia are struggling with their opening partnership 's doesn't mean we can't improve ours.
The two things are not related.

We should absolutely improve ours. If there's a tall, right handed, experienced opener who likes to play off the front foot and would have an instant understanding running between the wickets with Ben Duckett, he should be considered.

Is there someone who fits all these criteria?

Addick Addict · July 10

Chizz said:

blackpool72 said:

Chizz said:

DennisBooth said:

Chizz said:

Opening partnerships this year
Crawley and Duckett 490 runs at 81.66
Khawaja and Head 162 at 54.00
Khawaja and Konstas 130 at 21.66
Kawaja and Labuschagne 40 at 20.00

There's something to be said for not chopping and changing.

There is also something to be said for reacting quickly. You can massage figures any way you like. I can produce a set of figures that completely contradict yours.

I'm sure you can. But the point remains that, with Crawley and Duckett as an established opening partnership, Australia face significant questions still on who their openers will be.

Just because Australia are struggling with their opening partnership 's doesn't mean we can't improve ours.
The two things are not related.

We should absolutely improve ours. If there's a tall, right handed, experienced opener who likes to play off the front foot and would have an instant understanding running between the wickets with Ben Duckett, he should be considered.

Is there someone who fits all these criteria?

Can't you narrow your criteria even more? How about, "who possesses a glorious cover drive when the pitch is a road?"

blackpool72 · July 10

Chizz said:

blackpool72 said:

Chizz said:

DennisBooth said:

Chizz said:

Opening partnerships this year
Crawley and Duckett 490 runs at 81.66
Khawaja and Head 162 at 54.00
Khawaja and Konstas 130 at 21.66
Kawaja and Labuschagne 40 at 20.00

There's something to be said for not chopping and changing.

There is also something to be said for reacting quickly. You can massage figures any way you like. I can produce a set of figures that completely contradict yours.

I'm sure you can. But the point remains that, with Crawley and Duckett as an established opening partnership, Australia face significant questions still on who their openers will be.

Just because Australia are struggling with their opening partnership 's doesn't mean we can't improve ours.
The two things are not related.

We should absolutely improve ours. If there's a tall, right handed, experienced opener who likes to play off the front foot and would have an instant understanding running between the wickets with Ben Duckett, he should be considered.

Is there someone who fits all these criteria?

Hopefully yes.
We won't know until we try.

MarcusH26 · July 10

fenaddick said:

MarcusH26 said:

Chizz said:

DennisBooth said:

Chizz said:

Opening partnerships this year
Crawley and Duckett 490 runs at 81.66
Khawaja and Head 162 at 54.00
Khawaja and Konstas 130 at 21.66
Kawaja and Labuschagne 40 at 20.00

There's something to be said for not chopping and changing.

There is also something to be said for reacting quickly. You can massage figures any way you like. I can produce a set of figures that completely contradict yours.

I'm sure you can. But the point remains that, with Crawley and Duckett as an established opening partnership, Australia face significant questions still on who their openers will be.

I'd say the whole Aussie top order bar Smith is probably in flux. Their top 3 could be absolutely anything. Don't think Marnus is guaranteed even.

He isn’t guaranteed at all, completely dropped for WI series. Green hasn’t looked any better there though. Lots of bat offs in the early round of the Sheffield Shield

I don't get the thinking with Green at 3 , feels like square peg in a round hole to accommodate him. I can't see them reverting to the likes of Matt Renshaw or Marcus Harris at the top of the order but they've really not got a lot of top order options.

Nathan McSweeney would probably be the obvious pick at 3 with Smith 4, Head 5 and Beau Webster at 6. But the openers is anyone's game.

Chizz · July 10

blackpool72 said:

Chizz said:

blackpool72 said:

Chizz said:

DennisBooth said:

Chizz said:

Opening partnerships this year
Crawley and Duckett 490 runs at 81.66
Khawaja and Head 162 at 54.00
Khawaja and Konstas 130 at 21.66
Kawaja and Labuschagne 40 at 20.00

There's something to be said for not chopping and changing.

There is also something to be said for reacting quickly. You can massage figures any way you like. I can produce a set of figures that completely contradict yours.

I'm sure you can. But the point remains that, with Crawley and Duckett as an established opening partnership, Australia face significant questions still on who their openers will be.

Just because Australia are struggling with their opening partnership 's doesn't mean we can't improve ours.
The two things are not related.

We should absolutely improve ours. If there's a tall, right handed, experienced opener who likes to play off the front foot and would have an instant understanding running between the wickets with Ben Duckett, he should be considered.

Is there someone who fits all these criteria?

Hopefully yes.
We won't know until we try.

Good answer

fenaddick · July 10

MarcusH26 said:

fenaddick said:

MarcusH26 said:

Chizz said:

DennisBooth said:

Chizz said:

Opening partnerships this year
Crawley and Duckett 490 runs at 81.66
Khawaja and Head 162 at 54.00
Khawaja and Konstas 130 at 21.66
Kawaja and Labuschagne 40 at 20.00

There's something to be said for not chopping and changing.

There is also something to be said for reacting quickly. You can massage figures any way you like. I can produce a set of figures that completely contradict yours.

I'm sure you can. But the point remains that, with Crawley and Duckett as an established opening partnership, Australia face significant questions still on who their openers will be.

I'd say the whole Aussie top order bar Smith is probably in flux. Their top 3 could be absolutely anything. Don't think Marnus is guaranteed even.

He isn’t guaranteed at all, completely dropped for WI series. Green hasn’t looked any better there though. Lots of bat offs in the early round of the Sheffield Shield

I don't get the thinking with Green at 3 , feels like square peg in a round hole to accommodate him. I can't see them reverting to the likes of Matt Renshaw or Marcus Harris at the top of the order but they've really not got a lot of top order options.

Nathan McSweeney would probably be the obvious pick at 3 with Smith 4, Head 5 and Beau Webster at 6. But the openers is anyone's game.

The Green thing is crazy, he’s not a good enough batter or bowler to just do one and they seem to view him as an all rounder with little evidence he can do it. Not that I’m complaining of course

MarcusH26 · July 10

fenaddick said:

MarcusH26 said:

fenaddick said:

MarcusH26 said:

Chizz said:

DennisBooth said:

Chizz said:

Opening partnerships this year
Crawley and Duckett 490 runs at 81.66
Khawaja and Head 162 at 54.00
Khawaja and Konstas 130 at 21.66
Kawaja and Labuschagne 40 at 20.00

There's something to be said for not chopping and changing.

There is also something to be said for reacting quickly. You can massage figures any way you like. I can produce a set of figures that completely contradict yours.

I'm sure you can. But the point remains that, with Crawley and Duckett as an established opening partnership, Australia face significant questions still on who their openers will be.

I'd say the whole Aussie top order bar Smith is probably in flux. Their top 3 could be absolutely anything. Don't think Marnus is guaranteed even.

He isn’t guaranteed at all, completely dropped for WI series. Green hasn’t looked any better there though. Lots of bat offs in the early round of the Sheffield Shield

I don't get the thinking with Green at 3 , feels like square peg in a round hole to accommodate him. I can't see them reverting to the likes of Matt Renshaw or Marcus Harris at the top of the order but they've really not got a lot of top order options.

Nathan McSweeney would probably be the obvious pick at 3 with Smith 4, Head 5 and Beau Webster at 6. But the openers is anyone's game.

The Green thing is crazy, he’s not a good enough batter or bowler to just do one and they seem to view him as an all rounder with little evidence he can do it. Not that I’m complaining of course

It's against England they'll roll out Mitch Marsh at 3 or something.

blackpool72 · July 10

Chizz said:

blackpool72 said:

Chizz said:

blackpool72 said:

Chizz said:

DennisBooth said:

Chizz said:

Opening partnerships this year
Crawley and Duckett 490 runs at 81.66
Khawaja and Head 162 at 54.00
Khawaja and Konstas 130 at 21.66
Kawaja and Labuschagne 40 at 20.00

There's something to be said for not chopping and changing.

There is also something to be said for reacting quickly. You can massage figures any way you like. I can produce a set of figures that completely contradict yours.

I'm sure you can. But the point remains that, with Crawley and Duckett as an established opening partnership, Australia face significant questions still on who their openers will be.

Just because Australia are struggling with their opening partnership 's doesn't mean we can't improve ours.
The two things are not related.

We should absolutely improve ours. If there's a tall, right handed, experienced opener who likes to play off the front foot and would have an instant understanding running between the wickets with Ben Duckett, he should be considered.

Is there someone who fits all these criteria?

Hopefully yes.
We won't know until we try.

Good answer

For what it's worth I agree with you that having a very tall Right handed opening batsman and a very short left handed opening batsman is a good thing.
It must be very tough for the opening bowlers to have to keep changing their line and length every over.
In an ideal world Crawley would suddenly become more consistent and things would be perfect.
But if he continues getting low scores on a regular basis with only the odd decent score thrown in then there is an argument for trying someone else.

Chizz · July 10

Addick Addict said:

Chizz said:

blackpool72 said:

Chizz said:

DennisBooth said:

Chizz said:

Opening partnerships this year
Crawley and Duckett 490 runs at 81.66
Khawaja and Head 162 at 54.00
Khawaja and Konstas 130 at 21.66
Kawaja and Labuschagne 40 at 20.00

There's something to be said for not chopping and changing.

There is also something to be said for reacting quickly. You can massage figures any way you like. I can produce a set of figures that completely contradict yours.

I'm sure you can. But the point remains that, with Crawley and Duckett as an established opening partnership, Australia face significant questions still on who their openers will be.

Just because Australia are struggling with their opening partnership 's doesn't mean we can't improve ours.
The two things are not related.

We should absolutely improve ours. If there's a tall, right handed, experienced opener who likes to play off the front foot and would have an instant understanding running between the wickets with Ben Duckett, he should be considered.

Is there someone who fits all these criteria?

Can't you narrow your criteria even more? How about, "who possesses a glorious cover drive when the pitch is a road?"

No, there wouldn't be any point in doing that. My list merely shows those facets that most benefit Duckett at the other end.

A tall batter compliments Duckett as makes length harder for the opposition bowlers. A right handed batter makes line hard. Duckett is superb square of the wicket, so a partner who plays off the front foot is an ideal foil. Duckett and Crawley run well together, so if Crawley were to be replaced it should be by someone who runs well with him.

The risk of replacing Crawley with someone - anyone - else is in compromising what he brings to the partnership. That's why, if Crawley were to be dropped and Duckett retained, then the player brought in should possess those same advantages.

Addick Addict · July 10

Crawley's last 20 innings for England:

0
3
18
78 (v Pakistan)
27
3
29
2
0
1
17
8
21
5
124 (against the mighty Zimbabwe who even the SA captain felt sorry for)
4
65 (v India)
19
0
18

So that's an average of 22.10 and if we take out that Zimbabwe innings, that drops to 16.74. Given half of those are single digits, it's safe to conclude that very few of those have resulted in a meaningful opening partnership. Despite the fact that Crawley is "a tall, right handed, experienced opener who likes to play off the front foot".

blackpool72 · July 10

England currently have 3 batsmen ranked in the world top ten.

Root
Brooke
Smith.

Sort out the top 3 in the batting order and we are in very good shape.

killerandflash · July 10

Crazy that Bethell is the next cab off the rank, when he has no centuries of any sort, and in 2025 has played ONE red ball game, scoring 20 and 12 for Warks against Somerset last month.

Leuth · July 10

Sorry, are we actually taking Chizz seriously on a cricket thread? Have a word lads

Chizz · July 10

killerandflash said:

Crazy that Bethell is the next cab off the rank, when he has no centuries of any sort, and in 2025 has played ONE red ball game, scoring 20 and 12 for Warks against Somerset last month.

Who else is in the rank as a likely opening batter?

MarcusH26 · July 10

Tom Haines should be the next cab off the rank , in great form for Sussex and hit 171 on a road at Canterbury Vs India A for the Lions

Alas he's left handed and doesn't Bazball.

kinveachyaddick · July 10

Proper test cricket this now. This session will be huge and go a long way to deciding who wins this Test and goes 2-1 up

England Cricket 2025

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