England legend Geoffrey Boycott has slammed Zak Crawley and Chris Woakes, calling them "frauds" after England’s humiliating 336-run defeat to India in the second Test at Edgbaston. The heavy loss triggered harsh criticism from the former captain, who urged selectors to drop both players.
Boycott Slams Crawley’s Technique
Writing in his column for The Daily Telegraph, Boycott voiced strong frustration over Crawley’s lack of progress despite playing 56 Tests. He highlighted Crawley’s flawed technique and unwillingness to adapt, calling his average of 31 as a Test opener “not good enough.”
“I don’t think he can change or get better,” Boycott wrote. “Batting is in the head, and the brain dictates how you approach batting—what shots you attempt, what balls you leave. His faults in technique and thinking are ingrained. A leopard doesn’t change his spots, or maybe Zak does not want to change. He should be approaching his best years, but in 56 Tests he has learned nothing. One sparkling innings and numerous failures, with an average of 31, is not good enough.”
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Boycott then dissected Crawley’s dismissals in the Edgbaston Test, terming both shots “awful.”
“In the first innings, his feet got stuck in cement, neither forward nor back, and then he wafted at the ball to be caught at slip. In the second innings, he batted on off stump and drove at a well-pitched-up ball two feet wide. He did not need to play it.”
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Boycott Questions Woakes’ Test Future
On Chris Woakes, Boycott pointed to declining pace and poor overseas performance, suggesting he no longer offers value as a Test bowler.
“His pace is dropping, as expected from an aging seamer. He has never been a wicket-taker abroad, where his record is poor. He’s been good on English pitches, and his batting has been handy at times. But his job is not to shore up bad batting. Batsmen are there to score runs, and bowlers need to take wickets.”
With the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy level at 1-1, the series now moves to the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground for the third Test. India carry momentum after their historic Birmingham win, while England are expected to reshuffle their pace attack as they attempt a comeback.
Stay tuned for more updates on India’s tour of England 2025.
