Geoffrey Boycott hasn’t spared words in his recent column, leveling a stinging attack on England’s Test team with opener Zak Crawley and old war horse Chris Woakes on the receiving end of his exasperation.
Boycott was especially frank about Crawley, questioning both his technique and his state of mind. “I genuinely don’t think he can get any better at this stage,” Boycott said in The Daily Telegraph. “Batting is more a matter of the mind than the body. It’s a matter of judgment knowing what to play, what to leave, how to construct an innings. Crawley’s technical and mental flaws appear deeply entrenched.”
Even ventured as far as saying Crawley hasn’t come on from his extensive experience. “He’s 56 Tests into his life, and yet shows little sign of learning. One dazzling knock here and there doesn’t make up for a string of poor outings. Averaging 31 is simply not good enough.”
Boycott did admit that Crawley seemed to turn a corner during the first Test. “At Headingley, he looked different. He was more compact, left well, played with a straight bat, and let the ball come to him. But it didn’t last.”
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During the second Test at Edgbaston, Boycott feels Crawley fell back into bad habits. “His first innings dismissal was atrocious his feet were plugged in, no definite movement, and he just fended at the ball and was caught in the slips. In the second innings, he played a pointless drive at a wide ball when he was on zero. After five sessions in the field, he must have been tired but that’s when discipline is most important.”
Chris Woakes was not spared criticism either. Boycott felt that the 36-year-old paceman is no longer the same cricketer he used to be. “It’s a mistake selecting players who have reached their best. Woakes is obviously losing speed, which is only natural given his age. He’s always found it hard to make a difference overseas and, as much as he’s been solid at home, that in itself isn’t enough to retain him in the team.”
Boycott also said that Woakes’ batting, usually referred to as a bonus, should not be hiding the fact that he is not as effective with the ball anymore. “He has chipped in with the bat from time to time, but it’s not his role. Bowlers are there to get wickets, and batsmen are there to make runs. We can’t be surviving on lower-order contribution because top-order is failing.”
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