The England opener has remained undroppable despite plenty of patchy form, and he showed why at The Oval

Matt Roller01-Aug-2025

Zak Crawley got to his half-century in just 42 balls•AFP via Getty Images

How do you explain a cricketer like Zak Crawley? He is an outlier, a player who continues to defy conventional wisdom. No man in Test history has opened the batting so often (93 innings) and averaged so little (31.06), yet he is one half of England’s most prolific opening partnership for a decade and his place has rarely been so secure.This Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series has been a trademark Crawley series: he has averaged 34.50, a tick over his career mark, and has thrilled and frustrated in equal measure. He has made three substantial contributions in eight innings, yet none of England’s first-choice top seven have scored fewer runs. He remains England’s enigma, his career a web of contradictions.Crawley was England’s top-scorer in their first innings at The Oval and personified their approach, jumping at the chance to dominate India’s seamers. Before his dismissal, Crawley hit one in every four balls that he faced for four, maintaining a strike rate well above 100. He scored 56 of his 64 runs in boundaries, reasoning that on a seaming pitch, attack was the best form of defence.Related

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It was the perfect attack for him to face. Crawley has the peculiar distinction of getting better when the bowling gets faster, reasoning that he is at his best when he has no time to think and lets his instincts take over. Facing seam, he averages 43.31 against balls at 84mph/135kph or quicker, compared to just 27.31 against those below.But that is precisely why England’s management have retained him for so long. He has missed only three of their 47 Tests since Boxing Day 2021 – and those through injury – despite two long ruts in form. That he was their top-scorer in two consecutive marquee series (Australia 2023 and India 2024) vindicated the sense that he is better equipped against the best than the rest.Crawley is encapsulated by the fact he has only been dismissed once in 119 balls in this series against Jasprit Bumrah, but twice in the seven balls he has faced from Nitish Kumar Reddy. India’s rebalancing at The Oval pitted him against three fast-medium bowlers; Crawley may have been the only England batter to breathe a sigh of relief when India left Shardul Thakur out.If he rode his luck at times – inside-edging Prasidh Krishna past leg stump, flashing him over the slips – he made good use of it. Crawley hit two perfect straight drives – one mid-off, the other mid-on – in three balls from Mohammed Siraj, and made a capacity crowd collectively purr when he spanked Prasidh through cover point.1:58

Bangar on Crawley-Duckett: Haven’t seen batting of that quality

His partnership with Ben Duckett was worth 92 in just 12.5 overs, and the collapse that followed vindicated their ultra-positive approach. Crawley and Duckett refused to let India’s seamers settle, disrupting their lengths by charging down the pitch and – in Duckett’s case – playing conventional and reverse-scoops. On a green seamer, it was defence that proved fatal.It was evident from Shubman Gill’s reactions at third slip – and, soon enough, mid-off – that England’s openers put India under severe pressure. After India folded for 224, Gill was caught between stools: he had no runs to play with, yet knew that he needed to break the partnership as soon as possible. Duckett’s fluffed reverse came as a huge relief.By that stage, Duckett and Crawley had reached a rare milestone, bringing up 500 runs for the series as an opening pair. It was the first time any opening pair had done so since 2015, and they were the first England openers to since Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook in the 2010-11 Ashes. No wonder Crawley, for all his flaws, is considered undroppable.Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett have been the perfect contrast as an opening pair•Getty ImagesIt is not hard to work out why they have been such a success together. “One’s right-handed and a giant, the other is left-handed and isn’t,” Ben Stokes wrote in his programme notes for the Edgbaston Test. “When they get going, it can be a nightmare for bowlers trying to find rhythm.” A good ball to one is a freebie to the other, and vice-versa.Crawley is clearly frustrating to play against, and not only for his free-wheeling batting. He thrived on his role as pantomime villain at Lord’s and was on the wind-up again last week in Manchester, telling India’s batters their decision to bat on for centuries was “embarrassing” – seemingly oblivious that he was England’s only specialist batter without one in the series.His spliced pull to square midwicket felt oddly apt: he has always been a player of style over substance, and an anticlimactic dismissal was perfectly in keeping with the Crawley experience. On the flipside, for all that it looked like a missed chance to define the match, Crawley’s 64 was the highest score across both teams’ first innings.The Oval suits Crawley: it is one of two venues (along with the Utilita Bowl) where he has passed 50 three times in Test cricket, and is the English ground where he has scored the fastest. England have averaged fewer runs per wicket at The Oval than any other home venue in the last four summers; it is utterly in keeping with Crawley’s eccentricities that he has thrived there.

It has become a frustratingly familiar sight at Liverpool, with Alexander Isak trudging off in the second half against Inter Milan having had little impact up against last season’s beaten Champions League finalists.

The man whom Virgil van Dijk lauded as “the most in-form striker” in the world ahead of March’s Carabao Cup final, the 26-year-old looks like a shadow of his former self right now.

With just two goals to his name in all competitions thus far, only one of which has come in the Premier League, the Reds are in need of far better, with Isak running out of rope despite the potential impact of a lack of pre-season.

Of course, a delayed start to life at Anfield, following that need to get up to speed fitness-wise, has played its part in the Swede making just 14 appearances to date, while the chaos around him has likely not helped matters either.

Indeed, as the explosive Mohamed Salah debacle has epitomised, Arne Slot has yet to settle on a consistent forward line in 2025/26 – might that all change in January, however?

Latest on Liverpool's transfer search

For all the talk of a £450m spend over the summer, there is evidently a need for further reinforcements at Anfield heading into the New Year, with centre-back still an area of concern amid the lack of depth beyond Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.

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Having come agonisingly close to moving to Merseyside on deadline day, Marc Guehi seemingly remains a leading target ahead of the winter window, with the Englishman now left with just six months on his existing deal at Selhurst Park.

Of course, the exclusion, and potential exit, of Salah has also highlighted the need to bolster the ranks at the top end of the pitch too, with Slot particularly short on depth on either flank.

Well, with that search underway, the Reds might have received some welcome news, with TEAMtalk reporting that Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has made Anfield his ‘preferred destination’, if and when he does decide to leave the south coast side.

As per the report, despite rival interest from the likes of Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur, it is Liverpool who are believed to be the Ghanaian’s ‘first choice’, with there a ‘real chance’ that he could move on next month.

Available for £65m, due to his much-publicised release clause, the 25-year-old wouldn’t exactly break the bank, but he could be the missing piece for Slot’s attacking jigsaw.

How Liverpool could finally get Isak firing

There’s no denying it, Liverpool look like they’ve been burned by their £125m investment in Isak, with the 6 foot 4 marksman almost unrecognisable from the player who terrorised Premier League defences for the Magpies.

It may matter little considering his current form, although it’s worth remembering just how highly-rated he was just a matter of months ago, having ended 2024/25 with 23 league goals to his name, after netting 21 times in the top-flight the year prior.

The difference? Well, in the view of Slot, it could be the lack of a suitable supplier from the flanks, with the Dutch coach pointing to the fruitful partnership that Isak enjoyed with Jacob Murphy at St James’ Park.

As per Transfermarkt, Murphy assisted his free-scoring colleague 11 times in all competitions for the Tynesiders, with the unsung hero offering a reliable source of creativity from his right-wing berth.

While no doubt a step above the Englishman, having been hailed as the “best winger in the country” by Chris Waddle, Semenyo could be the Murphy-esque figure that Isak is in need of, having wreaked havoc down the flanks in recent seasons.

Erling Haaland

18

Igor Thiago

11

Bruno Fernandes

10

Antoine Semenyo

9

Phil Foden

8

Richarlison

8

Cody Gakpo

7

Leandro Trossard

7

Jean-Philippe Mateta…

7

Currently looking “unstoppable” under Andoni Iraola, in the view of pundit Darren Bent, the ex-Bristol City man has six goals and three assists to his name this season.

With blistering pace and lethal on either foot, Semenyo is in the form of his life right now, having also ended 2024/25 with 16 goals and assists in the Premier League.

The key benefit for Isak would be the 11 ‘big chances’ that the £65m man created last term, as per Sofascore, highlighting how he could emerge as Isak’s chief supplier under Slot’s watch.

As was evident with his stunning, solo goal on the opening day at Anfield, the Bournemouth talisman can also turn defence into attack in an instant, while occupying defenders to free up space for those around him.

That sense of chaos and unpredictability could help to breathe new life into Slot’s forward line, with Isak likely to be the big beneficiary if he can convert the ample opportunities that should fall his way.

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ByAngus Sinclair 3 days ago

كشفت تقارير إعلامية اليوم السبت، حقيقة احتمالية دخول نادي برشلونة سوق الانتقالات الشتوية في يناير ، وذلك من أجل التعاقد مع لاعبين جدد هذا الموسم.

برشلونة يقدم موسمًا جيدًا إلى حد كبير حيث يتصدر الفريق ترتيب الدوري الإسباني للدرجة الأولى وبفارق نقطة واحدة عن ريال مدريد صاحب المركز الثاني.

لكن برشلونة يعاني من نقص واضح في تشكيلته الحالية، حيث لم يقم البرسا سوى بضم لاعبين خلال فترة الميركاتو الصيفي الأخير، وهما ماركوس راشفورد على سبيل الإعارة من مانشستر يونايتد، إضافة إلى التعاقد مع حارس المرمى، خوان جارسيا، من صفوف نادي إسبانيول.

وأفادت صحيفة آس، بأنه لا توجد خطط حقيقية لدى نادي برشلونة حول التعاقد مع لاعب جديد خلال فترة الانتقالات الشتوية، والتي سوف تبدأ خلال شهر يناير المقبل في العام الجديد، لكن الوضع قد يتغير فيما بعد.

أقرأ أيضًا .. قائمة برشلونة لمباراة ريال بيتيس في الدوري الإسباني.. عودة الثنائي المصاب

وأضافت الصحيفة، أن برشلونة قد يتجه إلى ضم قلب دفاع خلال الميركاتو الشتوي، لكن تدعيم هذا المركز سوف يعتمد على وضعية رونالد أراوخو.

وأوضحت الصحيفة، أن برشلونة يراقب جيدًا وضع أراوخو، والذي يعاني نفسيًأ بصورة كبيرة بعد طرده خلال مواجهة البرسا ضد تشيلسي قبل أسبوعين في دوري أبطال أوروبا.

وأفادت آس، بأن برشلونة بقيادة مدربه هانز فليك، يثقون بصورة كبيرة في قدرات أرواخو ، ويرى النادي الإسباني أنه ليس من الضروري ضم قلب دفاع في يناير ، لكن ضغط المباريات قد يغير وجهة نظر البلوجرانا.

وأكدت الصحيفة، أن أمر عودة إنييجو مارتينيز من جديد إلى صفوف نادي برشلونة صعبًا للغاية، بينما تبدوا سياسة البرسا هي ضم قلب دفاع بسعر رخيص الثمن، من أجل المساعدة في إجراءات التسجيل التي لن تكون سهلة على الفريق الكتالني.

Legspinner takes 6 for 51 as Division Two’s leaders tighten grip on contest

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay23-Jul-2025

Derbyshire 189 (Rehan 6-51) trail Leicestershire 398 (Hill 151, Rehan 115, Handscomb 101, Reece 6-56) by 209 runsEngland all-rounder Rehan Ahmed claimed career-best figures as Leicestershire took control of the Rothesay County Championship match against Derbyshire on a record-breaking day at the Central Co-op County Ground.Rehan followed his hundred on day one by taking 6 for 51 from 20 overs with his leg spin to bowl the hosts out for 189 in reply to the Division Two leaders 398.Lewis Hill scored 151 and Peter Handscomb 101 but the visitors collapsed spectacularly to Luis Reece who took 5 for 12 in seven overs to finish with 6 for 56.Leicestershire’s total is the lowest completed innings to include three centuries in the history of country cricket, beating 422 by Essex against Glamorgan at Swansea in 1995.When they resumed on 357 for 3, their sights would have been set on 500 plus but they managed only 41 more as Reece ran through them.Handscomb completed his hundred in the second over of the morning but then played at one from Zak Chappell that moved away to take the outside edge,The rest of the session belonged to Reece whose relentless disciplined line was too much for the visitors.Ian Holland edged a drive to be caught by Brooke Guest standing up and after Hill on drove Reece for four to reach 150, he pushed at the next ball and was caught behind.Louis Kimber, having survived a hard head high chance to short cover, then drove an easier catch to the same fielder two balls later before Reece struck twice in an over.Ben Green was beaten by swing and former Derbyshire bowler Logan Van Beek was also snared at cover, the fourth Leicestershire player to be out without scoring.When Liam Trevaskis was bowled by Alex Thomson in the next over, the visitors had lost their last seven wickets for 38 runs.Derbyshire lost David Lloyd in the first over of their reply when he shouldered arms to Holland but Caleb Jewell and Harry Came then dug in until Ahmed struck either side of tea.The pair batted sensibly,both passing 50, to add 112 from 215 balls but Came then dragged a pull into the hands of mid on.Wayne Madsen went in the leg-spinner’s next over, caught at slip playing a big drive, and Ahmed claimed Jewell’s wicket immediately after the interval.The Australian was trapped lbw going back in his crease and Aneurin Donald was caught behind cutting after a brief counter attack.Ahmed turned one past Reece’s defensive push before bowling Chappell to become the first Leicestershire player to score a hundred and take six wickets in an innings since Phil Simmons against Durham in 1996.Derbyshire’s slide continued with Guest edging a drive at Trevaskis to slip before Thomson was run out and Kimber removed Jack Morley in the final over to leave Derbyshire trailing by 209.