The Ashes 2025-26 are still a ways off, but the debate over Zak Crawley's place in England's lineup is already heating up. Here’s the kicker: despite his inconsistency, former captain Michael Vaughan believes England should stick with Crawley. Bold move, right? But here’s where it gets controversial—Vaughan admits Crawley “frustrates the life out of me,” yet he’s convinced the opener has untapped potential. Let’s break it down.
Crawley entered the final Ashes Test as England’s leading run-scorer in the series, only to fall for 16 on the first morning at the Sydney Cricket Ground. At 27, he’s still finding his feet, and his recent technical tweak—shifting his guard across the stumps—didn’t pay off when he was lbw to Michael Neser’s straight ball. And this is the part most people miss: the ball that dismissed him wasn’t unplayable. Vaughan pointed out on the Test Match Special podcast, ‘He looks such a good player—and then just gets out.’ The issue? Likely a lapse in concentration, a recurring theme in Crawley’s game.
Crawley’s Ashes journey began with a disappointing pair in Perth, but he bounced back with scores of 76 and 44 in Brisbane, followed by a gritty 85 in Adelaide. His 37 in Melbourne was crucial in England’s first Australian victory in 15 years, cutting the series deficit to 3-1. Yet, his overall Test average of 30.82 after 103 innings is the lowest for any opener with as many opportunities—a stat that’s hard to ignore.
Vaughan, who led England to Ashes glory in 2005, acknowledges Crawley’s flaws. ‘His concentration levels are not the strongest,’ he said. ‘Those big booming drives we saw earlier in the series? They’ve vanished.’ But Vaughan sees something others might not: ‘There’s a bigger average in him than he’s giving at the moment.’ Here’s the controversial take: Vaughan believes Crawley could average 40-45 in the next two to three years—if he cracks the concentration code.
Returning to Sydney, where he scored an impressive 77 in 2021-22, Crawley had a chance to reignite his career. Instead, his dismissal raised more questions than answers. But should England give up on him? Vaughan says no. ‘I know there’s a lot more in the tank,’ he insisted. ‘England have to stay with him.’
So, what do you think? Is Vaughan right to back Crawley, or is it time for England to look elsewhere? Here’s the thought-provoking question: Can a player with Crawley’s talent truly overcome his concentration issues, or is his potential forever out of reach? Let’s hear your take in the comments—agree or disagree, this debate is far from over.
