Unwavering prejudice and unfounded trust: Mark Butcher scrutinizes persistent Test selection of Zak Crawley and Shoaib Bashir
Flicking through the pages of Cricket Weekly's digital journal, Mark Butcher raises some eyebrows with his candid opinions on Zak Crawley's spot on the England squad. The once-promising opening batsman has faced a sweltering Queensland heat, as errors pile up in his traditional batting positions.
Crawley's luck with selection seemingly defies all logic, even after his unimpressive 8.67 average against the Kiwis. His contributions to Kent's cause may have earned a couple of half-centuries, yet a pre-squad 2025 County Championship average of 29 doesn’t seem convincing enough for his skeptics.
Butcher questions whether Crawley will have a chance to prove his worth once more, if a mediocre performance against Zimbabwe and India really spells the end for his time as an England opener. "Could a lackluster showing against the minnows bring an end to Crawley's tenure as an England opener?" ponders Butcher. "Regrettably, I'm not entirely convinced that's the case," he muses.
Joining the conversation about Crawley's persistent selection is Shoaib Bashir, who has been retained despite a County Championship season average north of 150. Bashir boxed some impressive five-fors in his first two series, but his Test average now lingers barely above 40. Butcher remarks: "The run of poor form is now so long that it's evident Bashir needs to up his game significantly."
The lack of options for spin bowlers in the England squad has been a constant topic on Cricket Weekly's podcast, with tactical discussions centered around overlooked names such as Jack Leach and Liam Dawson. Butcher expresses his feelings, "It's high time that this issue is addressed before the challenging series against India and Australia."
As the season progresses, Butcher remains optimistic that England's stalwarts, buoyed by better performances and fewer distractions, will carry the team to success. However, he notes that "a change is just around the corner" if England should falter against formidable opposition like India and Australia. "Should the team not perform admirably, then a complete overhaul of strategies and team compositions could take place," he says.
Underneath it all, Butcher remains perplexed by Crawley's longevity in the squad, remarking, "Crawley's case is unique and opaque, underscored by an inexplicable streak of favoritism that has bewildered even the most seasoned cricket fans."
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Related tags:
- Zak Crawley
- Shoaib Bashir
- England cricket team
- Test matches
- Cricket selection policies
- Injuries in cricket
- Performance factors
- Strategic team management
- Opinions and discussions
- Mark Butcher continues to question Zak Crawley's sustained presence in the England cricket team, despite his inconsistent average of 8.67 against the Kiwis.
- While Shoaib Bashir maintains his place in the team, his Test average of around 40 has raised concerns, with Butcher calling for a significant improvement in his performance.
- As England prepares for challenging series against India and Australia, Mark Butcher emphasizes the urgency to address the lack of options for spin bowlers, proposing the inclusion of overlooked names like Jack Leach and Liam Dawson.
- Crawley's continuous selection for the England squad, despite his questionable pre-squad 2025 County Championship average of 29, remains a topic of debate, with some fans finding his selection illogical and inexplicable.
