ENG vs IND 2025: 'How many more chances is Zak Crawley going to get?' - Geoffrey Boycott questions England's persistence with misfiring opener

Geoffrey Boycott wondered how many more chances England are going to give to the misfiring Zak Crawley before they look for a new opening batter, especially with the Ashes being on the horizon.

Crawley has been in abysmal form in the ongoing Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, scoring just 128 runs from six innings at an average of 21.33. He has managed just one half-century so far. In 57 Tests so far in his career, the England opener has only scored 3151 runs at an average of 30.89.

Boycott opined that the right-handed batter has not learned much even after being around in international cricket for almost five years. The former cricketer believes that it is high time England showed Crawley the door.

"How many more chances is Crawley going to get? He has learned nothing in his 57 Tests. A waft in the first innings caught behind and a front-foot drive in the second innings to a wide sucker ball caught at gully. It was just a replay of too many of his dismissals. Time to go," Boycott wrote in his column for The Telegraph.

Boycott feels that the Australian seamers like Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins would be chuffed to bits if they get the opportunity to bowl to Crawley during the upcoming Ashes, which takes place in Australia, starting later this year.

"Most opposition bowlers can't wait to get their sweaters off to bowl at him. Can you imagine what the Australian seamers are thinking about this winter's Ashes series? If Starc doesn't get you, Hazlewood and Cummins will," he mentioned.

Ollie needs to go back to basic batting: Geoffrey Boycott

Boycott also highlighted the shortcomings of Ollie Pope, who has been inconsistent of late. The 84-year-old believes that Pope is trying too hard to adapt his game to the 'Bazball' approach. Boycott advised the right-handed batter to focus on the basics and bat according to match situations.

"Ollie needs to go back to basic batting. He needs to assess the situation and bat accordingly - not slavishly to an ideology or how he thinks the captain and coach want him to play," Boycott wrote.