Brendon McCullum backed Zak Crawley after his poor performance in the 1st Test

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The second test match will be played on August 25 at Old Trafford

England head coach Brendon McCullum has backed opener Zak Crawley and said that he will stay with him for the second test against South Africa in Manchester while Crawley could score just nine and 13 during England’s despicable loss by innings in the first Test.

England head coach Brendon McCullum has backed opener Zak Crawley and said that he will stay with him for the second test against South Africa in Manchester. 

Crawley could score just nine and 13 during England’s despicable loss by innings and 12 runs to South Africa in the first Test at the Lord’s. In his past ten innings, he has overseen just 164 runs at a poor average of 16.40. 

He has scored no fifties in this run, with the best score of 46. However, McCullum thinks that persistence should be displayed to the under-scrutiny 24-year-old.

“You have to think about the overall package. We have some players that have been put in those positions because they have certain skill-sets. I look at a guy like Zak and his skill-set is not to be a consistent cricketer. He is not that type of player. He is put in that situation because he has a game which, when he gets going, he can win matches for England,”

ICC quoted McCullum as saying.

England bowed to a ruthless loss in the first Test and South Africa had the option to keep up with its best position in the ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 standings.

Crawley has been criticized by many senior England cricketers like Mike Atherton who demanded to remove him from the squad.

“He did not look like a man that was going to be there for a long time. England like him and think there is loads of potential but at some point, you have to take someone out of the firing line,”

Atherton said.

“The best bowlers put it around off stump time and time again and Crawley is nicking off on and around off stump. That is the game as an opening batsman and if you are struggling to sort that aspect of your game, it is an issue,”

he added.

“That is not how I think. We want to keep giving guys opportunities, then their skill and talent can come out. We have to be positive around the language we use with him and be consistent with the selections around that, to keep giving guys opportunities,”

he said.

“Selection loyalty is really important. Not only does it build loyalty from guys on the side, but it also builds loyalty from guys on the outside because they know when their opportunity does come they will be afforded the same loyalty,”

he added.

The second test match between England and South Africa will be played on August 25 at Old Trafford, Manchester.

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