ENG vs IND: Zak Crawley Is The Real Test Of McCullum-Stokes Brand Of Cricket - Nasser Hussain

Former England captain Nasser Hussain said that the ‘gifted’ Zak Crawley will have to make the most of what he has, before claiming his performances will be the biggest challenge for the new style of play under the captain-coach duo of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.

Crawley fell for 9 in the first innings of the Edgbaston Test against India on Saturday. The knock follows up his dismal outings in the last few innings where he has scores of 43, 9, 4, 0, 6, and 25.

“You can’t go back to the 90s where England kept chopping and changing. People feel more comfortable if they have the backing and have been given a long run but your only currency runs and he keeps getting out the same way. I think he is a real test of the McCullum and Stokes brand of cricket,” Hussain said on the Sky Sports broadcast.

“You want to be the gifted lad that made the most of your ability” – Nasser Hussain

Hussain said that Crawley has the shots in the book but he needs to put up big scores to justify his place in the side. Stokes has also publicly backed Crawley, implying he is part of their plans for the future.

“Crawley is in charge of his own career and you don’t want to be that gifted lad that played some lovely shots, you want to be the gifted lad that made the most of your ability.”

“Bairstow, for example, has been positive in his last three innings but not reckless, while there is a difference between opening and batting at No 5 in England. You would hope there is a little more in this coaching regime, where they say ‘the percentages were against you today,’” he also mentioned.

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