ENG vs IND: 'He Is the Luckiest to Have So Many Caps' – Former England skipper slams Zak Crawley, urges him to learn from Shubman Gill

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has criticized Zak Crawley for his poor and inconsistent performances in the ongoing Test series against India. In his latest column for The Telegraph, Vaughan labeled Crawley as the “luckiest player” to have earned so many Test caps despite his inconsistent performances. The 2005 Ashes-winning skipper pointed out that Crawley’s only notable contribution in the current series was a 65-run knock in the first Test.

Vaughan, known for his outspoken views, didn’t hold back while presenting Crawley’s unimpressive stats. “There have been many players who have frustrated fans—including me—over the years, but he (Crawley) is right up there as the most frustrating I can remember. And in my time watching, playing for, and covering England, he is the player luckiest to have won as many caps as he has,” Vaughan wrote. He added, “He has to count himself fortunate to have played 56 games while scoring just five hundreds and averaging 31. Among all the openers in history with more than 2,500 runs, he has the lowest average: 30.3.”

The former skipper also highlighted that Crawley has batted 102 times in Test cricket and has been dismissed for single-digit scores on 42 occasions. Vaughan emphasized that these figures are not just below par but also unacceptable at the highest level of the game.

Vaughan Points to Gill’s Example for Inspiration

Vaughan then urged Crawley to take inspiration from India’s captain, Shubman Gill, who has made remarkable technical adjustments during the series. He praised Gill’s ability to evolve and improve his game, turning vulnerability into strength. “It is possible to change. Look at Shubman Gill. He came into this series averaging 35, and four innings later he averages 42,” Vaughan wrote.

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“He has done that because of his mindset and strategy. He recognized that he was vulnerable to the LBW and that his hands were away from his body. But he has been tighter, and that has allowed him to bat for long periods with greater control while still putting the bad ball away. He has focused on defense, then attacked later,” Vaughan added.