New Zealand vs England: Zak Crawley's poor form continues but tourists will remain loyal, says Michael Atherton | Cricket news

Zak Crawley's poor run during the New Zealand tour continues but England will remain loyal to their opener, says Michael Atherton.

Crawley has just one half-century in his last 13 innings and averages 9.40 in the New Zealand series. He was dismissed for 21 as England collapsed on the second day of the third Test against New Zealand which saw them bowled out for 143 as the hosts built a 340-run lead.

In Christchurch, the 26-year-old was removed for a duck and a single, each time by Matt Henry, and during the second Test in Wellington, he scored 17 and eight before falling to the New Zealand pacer again.

“I'm not sure what the selection pressure is because England seem to be on the path of wanting Crawley and (Ben) Duckett to be their opening partnership,” Atherton said on . Sky Sports News. “Especially thinking ahead to the Ashes and how Crawley played in Australia and at home in the Ashes last year.

“You understand that, but he's had a bad cycle. He struck out Matt Henry five times in five innings.

“He can't recognize Henry at all, who's an excellent new-ball bowler, puts him a bit out of whack both ways, and he's got Crawley's number.”

Crawley averaged 53.33 in the 2023 Ashes series – more than his team-mate and England great Joe Root – and made a brilliant 189 in Manchester, his last Test century to date.

The Kent batsman made 78 in Multan when England lost 2-1 to Pakistan in October but struggled for the rest of the tour, making combined scores of 30 and 31 in the last two Tests.

England's overall performance in Hamilton was well below their best, but Atherton says they will not use fatigue as an excuse at the end of a busy year.

“It's been a long year of Test cricket,” Atherton said. “They're certainly not using that as an excuse. I wouldn't use that as an excuse on their behalf.

“It's just impossible to know how much of an end-of-term feeling there is when you've won a series and you're at the end of a long year of cricket.”

Collingwood: We've been better

Four England players scored in single figures, including Harry Brook who was dismissed for a golden duck as New Zealand's pace attack tore through the tourists, Will O'Rourke taking the win on 3-33 when he removed Jacob Bethell, Root and Brook.

It will now be up to England's bowlers to limit New Zealand's lead and keep their hopes of a 3-0 whitewash alive.

“I think we've been better here, as simple as that,” assistant coach Paul Collingwood said.

“Obviously the lads were disappointed, it wasn't our best day, but one thing I would say is that we saw something very special out there (from O'Rourke), A very hostile spell in Test bowling.

“I'm glad I wasn't the one out there facing it because you don't see those spells every day. Sometimes you have to take your hat off, he was a real stand-in for them .that spell has been broken open.

“It's going to be very difficult from this situation, but never say never.

“When you have a team full of winners like we have, you only need a couple to do something special. We believe we can break a record if that's what we have to do.”

Commenting on Crawley's troubled form in this series, Collingwood said: “I think he's struggled with Henry in particular. It has caused him problems.

“I know myself, it's terrible. You don't just think about it when you're waiting to go and bat, you think about it away from the game. But the team will get around Zak and they find ways to take it. remind them of something like that.

“The way he's playing in the nets, he's hitting the ball really well, he's just finding ways to get out. With Zak, we don't want it to be consistent, it's about winning moments.

“We know with Zak that he can hurt teams when he comes in. And I'm telling you, he's ready to hurt somebody.”

England's test tour of New Zealand