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Zak Crawley leaves behind Yashasvi Jaiswal in WTC record with 50 in Adelaide

Rajgeeta Yadav

Zak Crawley surpasses Yashasvi Jaiswal [Source: AFP] Zak Crawley surpasses Yashasvi Jaiswal [Source: AFP]

England opener Zak Crawley continued his fine run of form by scoring an important fifty against Australia in the third Test of the Ashes 2025–26 at the Adelaide Oval. 

Notably, his half-century on Day 4 not only kept England’s hopes alive but also helped him achieve a major personal milestone, as he went past India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal in an elite ICC World Test Championship record.

England were set a massive target of 435 runs to win after Australia were bowled out for 349 in their second innings. Crawley opened the batting alongside Ben Duckett, however, the England start did not go as planned. 

Duckett was dismissed early, scoring just four runs off 2 balls. Despite losing his opening partner quickly, Crawley stayed calm and focused at the crease.

Zak Crawley surpasses Yashasvi Jaiswal with gritty fifty

Wickets kept falling around him. Ollie Pope was dismissed for 17,  and Joe Root followed with 39 runs. England were under pressure, but Crawley showed patience and composure, holding the innings together. He picked his shots wisely and avoided taking unnecessary risks.

Crawley reached his fifty in style during the 36th over of England’s second innings. Facing Pat Cummins, he drove a full-length delivery through mid-off and ran hard to complete three runs, bringing up his half-century. The moment was special, as it also took him to the top of a major World Test Championship list.

With this fifty, Crawley now has 21 scores of 50 or more as an opener in the World Test Championship, tying with Sri Lanka’s Dimuth Karunaratne at the top. He moved ahead of Yashasvi Jaiswal of India and Tom Latham of New Zealand, who both have 20 such scores. 

Most 50+ scores as an opener in WTC

  • 21 – Zak Crawley (England)*, Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lanka)
  • 20 – Yashasvi Jaiswal (India), Tom Latham (New Zealand)
  • 19 – Usman Khawaja (Australia)

Earlier in the match, Australia’s second innings was dominated by Travis Head, who played a superb knock of 170. He was well supported by Usman Khawaja, who scored 40, and Alex Carey, who added 72. 

Head and Carey shared a strong 162-run partnership for the fifth wicket. However, England’s bowlers struck back strongly, with Josh Tongue taking four wickets and Brydon Carse picking up three.