‘Make most of your ability’ - Naseer Hussain urges Zak Crawley after string of low scores

The former England skipper Naseer Hussain believes the opening batter Zak Crawley should make the best use of his innate ability and opportunity to contribute consistently in international cricket. 

In the ongoing red-ball fixture against India, Crawley was dismissed for a score of 9 off 17 in the first innings by flashing his blade on the widish delivery of Bumrah and giving an easy catching opportunity at the slip cordon. 

In six innings of the recent Test series against New Zealand, the 24-year-old could only score 87 runs and didn’t leave any sufficient impact on the team’s performance as they won the series 3-0. 

After his terrific knock of 267 against Pakistan in 2020, Crawley has scored only 150 runs at an average of 11.53 in the red-ball home series. 

In the 2022 edition of the County Championship, the opening batter has scored 302 runs in 10 innings, which is one of the lowest among the Kent players. 

Hussain has reckoned that the England team cannot be making changes in every other Test, as it puts unnecessary pressure on the players. He thinks Crawley’s form is a matter of concern for the new leadership in the form of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. 

"You can't go back to the 90s where England kept chopping and changing. People feel more comfortable if they have the backing and have been given a long run, but your only currency runs, and he keeps getting out the same way. I think he is a real test of the McCullum and Stokes brand of cricket," Hussain said during the Sky Sports broadcast on Day 2. 

The 54-year-old feels Crawley should make the most of his ability to help England do well in the longest format and progress well in his career. 

"Crawley is in charge of his own career, and you don't want to be that gifted lad that played some lovely shots, you want to be the gifted lad that made the most of your ability.”

The former English skipper added that Jonny Bairstow has been positive in his approach, but not reckless in scoring runs. However, he reckoned that Crawley should not adopt the approach of a middle-order batter, and play according to the slot allotted to him. 

“Bairstow, for example, has been positive in his last three innings but not reckless, while there is a difference between opening and batting at No 5 in England. You would hope there is a little more in this coaching regime, where they say 'the percentages were against you today.”

"I would say the ball today was not necessarily a driveable length when the ball is moving, it is a defend or leave length. But England want players to take the game on. Stokes has made a clarion call to county cricketers saying they have to play this way to get into the team," the former English skipper concluded.