Geoffrey Boycott Critiques England's Test Team Performance

Boycott's Sharp Criticism of England's Opener

In a recent column, Geoffrey Boycott did not hold back in his criticism of England's Test cricket team, particularly targeting opener Zak Crawley and veteran Chris Woakes.

Boycott expressed serious concerns regarding Crawley's batting technique and mental approach. He stated, "I genuinely don’t believe he can improve at this point. Batting is largely a mental game, involving judgment on what to play and what to leave. Crawley’s issues seem deeply rooted both technically and mentally."

He further noted that despite Crawley's extensive experience, he has not shown significant improvement. "He has played 56 Tests but shows little sign of growth. A few impressive innings do not compensate for a series of disappointing performances. An average of 31 is simply inadequate."

Crawley's Inconsistent Performance

Boycott acknowledged that Crawley appeared to make progress during the first Test, saying, "At Headingley, he seemed different—more compact, left the ball well, and played with a straight bat. However, this improvement was short-lived."

In the second Test at Edgbaston, Boycott observed that Crawley reverted to poor habits. "His first innings dismissal was dreadful; he was static, lacked movement, and simply edged the ball to slips. In the second innings, he played an unnecessary drive at a wide delivery while on zero. After spending five sessions in the field, fatigue is understandable, but discipline is crucial at such times."

Woakes Under Fire

Chris Woakes also faced Boycott's scrutiny. The former cricketer remarked that the 36-year-old pacer is no longer at his peak. "Selecting players past their prime is a mistake. Woakes is evidently losing pace, which is natural with age. While he has been reliable at home, that alone does not justify his place in the team," Boycott stated.

He added that Woakes' batting, often seen as a bonus, should not overshadow his declining effectiveness as a bowler. "He has contributed with the bat occasionally, but that’s not his primary role. Bowlers are meant to take wickets, while batsmen score runs. We cannot rely on lower-order contributions when the top order is struggling."