Former England captain Michael Vaughan has sharply criticized opener Zak Crawley for his persistent inconsistency in the ongoing Test series against India, branding him the “luckiest player” to have earned 56 Test caps despite a modest record. Writing in The Telegraph, Vaughan suggested Crawley take inspiration from Indian captain Shubman Gill’s technical adjustments to revive his faltering career.

Crawley, with just one notable score of 65 in the series’ opening Test, has drawn Vaughan’s ire for his underwhelming stats: a career average of 30.3, the lowest among openers with over 2,500 Test runs, and 42 single-digit dismissals in 102 innings. “He’s the most frustrating player I can remember,” Vaughan wrote, questioning how Crawley has secured so many opportunities with only five centuries and an average of 31.

In contrast, Vaughan praised Gill, who has transformed his approach to amass nearly 600 runs in the first two Tests, boosting his career average from 35 to 42. Gill’s success, Vaughan noted, stems from addressing vulnerabilities like frequent lbw dismissals by tightening his technique, keeping hands closer to his body, and prioritizing defense before attacking loose deliveries. “He’s shown greater control while still punishing bad balls,” Vaughan wrote, urging Crawley to adopt a similar mindset and strategy to salvage his Test career.

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The critique comes as England struggles against a dominant Indian side, with Crawley’s inconsistent form under scrutiny in a high-stakes series.

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