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England Cricket 2025
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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.2
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He's has 103 innings. I agree about the "sometimes" but the "sometimes" have been very, very few compared to the numerous failures.fenaddick said:
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.Addick Addict said:
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.fenaddick said:Crawley had a great second innings at Headlingly which showed how he can play, the frustrating thing is the inconsistency
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.2 -
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.1 -
Thought he was pretty lucky at Headingley though - wasn't by any means a chanceless 65.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
Wasn't like Pope in the first innings who looked really good.1 -
His average in Australia is 27.66. His scores there have been 12, 5, 18, 77, 18 & 36.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.
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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.2 -
If he's still in the team and he opens in Australia we deserve to lose. Enough is enoughPelling1993 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.2 -
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.1
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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…0
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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 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.1 - Sponsored links:
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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.DennisBooth said:
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 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.1 -
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.Chizz said:
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.DennisBooth said:
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 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.2 -
Just because Australia are struggling with their opening partnership 's doesn't mean we can't improve ours.Chizz said:
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.DennisBooth said:
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 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.
The two things are not related.2 -
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 ShieldMarcusH26 said:
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.Chizz said:
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.DennisBooth said:
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 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.0 -
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.blackpool72 said:
Just because Australia are struggling with their opening partnership 's doesn't mean we can't improve ours.Chizz said:
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.DennisBooth said:
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 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.
The two things are not related.
Is there someone who fits all these criteria?2 -
Chizz said:
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.blackpool72 said:
Just because Australia are struggling with their opening partnership 's doesn't mean we can't improve ours.Chizz said:
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.DennisBooth said:
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 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.
The two things are not related.
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?"0 -
Hopefully yes.Chizz said:
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.blackpool72 said:
Just because Australia are struggling with their opening partnership 's doesn't mean we can't improve ours.Chizz said:
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.DennisBooth said:
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 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.
The two things are not related.
Is there someone who fits all these criteria?
We won't know until we try.1 -
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.fenaddick said:
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 ShieldMarcusH26 said:
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.Chizz said:
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.DennisBooth said:
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 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.
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.0 -
Good answerblackpool72 said:
Hopefully yes.Chizz said:
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.blackpool72 said:
Just because Australia are struggling with their opening partnership 's doesn't mean we can't improve ours.Chizz said:
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.DennisBooth said:
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 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.
The two things are not related.
Is there someone who fits all these criteria?
We won't know until we try.0 -
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 courseMarcusH26 said:
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.fenaddick said:
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 ShieldMarcusH26 said:
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.Chizz said:
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.DennisBooth said:
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 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.
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.3 - Sponsored links:
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It's against England they'll roll out Mitch Marsh at 3 or something.fenaddick said:
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 courseMarcusH26 said:
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.fenaddick said:
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 ShieldMarcusH26 said:
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.Chizz said:
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.DennisBooth said:
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 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.
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.0 -
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.Chizz said:
Good answerblackpool72 said:
Hopefully yes.Chizz said:
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.blackpool72 said:
Just because Australia are struggling with their opening partnership 's doesn't mean we can't improve ours.Chizz said:
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.DennisBooth said:
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 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.
The two things are not related.
Is there someone who fits all these criteria?
We won't know until we try.
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.0 -
No, there wouldn't be any point in doing that. My list merely shows those facets that most benefit Duckett at the other end.Addick Addict said:Chizz said:
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.blackpool72 said:
Just because Australia are struggling with their opening partnership 's doesn't mean we can't improve ours.Chizz said:
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.DennisBooth said:
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 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.
The two things are not related.
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?"
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.0 -
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".2 -
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.0 -
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.0
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Sorry, are we actually taking Chizz seriously on a cricket thread? Have a word lads2
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Who else is in the rank as a likely opening batter?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.0 -
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.0 -
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 up0
