Zak Crawley is once again at the centre of England’s selection debate. Two ducks in the opening Ashes Test in Perth reignited questions surrounding his place. His average of just over 30 after 60 Tests remains the lowest for any opener with that many matches. Still, England are unlikely to make a change — partly due to their belief in him and partly because they have no specialist back-up openers on tour.
Why England persist
England’s management continues to point toward Crawley’s partnership with Ben Duckett. Since Duckett returned to the Test side in 2022, no opening pair has scored more runs or produced more century stands for England. Crawley’s record against Australia has also been used to justify his spot. He averaged more than 40 against them before this series and famously struck a superb 189 at Old Trafford last year.
They also believe his game is suited to Australian conditions — strong against bounce and high pace. His record against Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood has historically been solid, while even Mitchell Starc had struggled to dismiss him before Perth.
Cracks in the case
Despite those arguments, The first Test in Perth served as a harsh reminder of Crawley’s vulnerability. Both dismissals came from drives that he failed to control — a shot that has brought him success but causes trouble in Australia’s seam-friendly, bouncy conditions. His ability against genuine pace has also dipped sharply this year. Against bowling over 87mph, he currently averages six since the start of the summer, with quicks like Starc and Jasprit Bumrah exposing him repeatedly.
Those trends have left his career average in Australia at just 20.75 — far from the levels England hoped for during this Ashes.
Few alternatives, limited time
Dropping him now would create a bigger headache. Asking a middle-order batter like Will Jacks to open, or handing a debut to Jacob Bethell, risks unsettling the line-up even further. England selected Crawley with this tour in mind — abandoning that plan after one poor match would feel like panic.
Captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum continue to push a message of loyalty and belief. They argue that their preparation style works and that Crawley remains a key part of their “Bazball” identity — aggressive at the top and capable of taking attacks apart.
Pressure rising fast
But England have already fallen behind in the Ashes, and patience can only stretch so far. The theory around Crawley must start turning into performance. With conditions still challenging in the remaining Tests, and Australia’s pace attack relentless, his response in Brisbane may shape his immediate future.
England want to prove their trust is sound — but Crawley now needs to prove it isn’t flawed.
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