IND vs ENG: Former England captain lashes out at Ben Stokes' Bazballers- 'It’s a members’ club'

Former England captain Geoffrey Boycott has criticized Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum for their unwavering support of struggling opener Zak Crawley. Boycott expressed disbelief that the England cricket management isn't seeking alternative options, questioning how many more opportunities Crawley will receive given his underwhelming average of 30.89 after 57 Tests.
IND vs ENG: Former England captain lashes out at Ben Stokes' Bazballers- 'It’s a members’ club'
England's captain Ben Stokes gestures during the fifth day of the third cricket test match between England and India at Lord's cricket ground in London, Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Pelham)
Former England captain Geoffrey Boycott has slammed Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum for their rigid approach in continuing with Zak Crawley, despite the opener's struggles.Boycott said he is amazed by the fact that the England cricket management is not looking for another opener.
India vs England: India fall short at Lord’s, England lead series 2-1
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!
"People ask me: ‘Haven’t we got another opener in county cricket?’ I say: ‘I don’t think the hierarchy are looking.’ It’s a members’ club and if you are in it… you can’t get out," Boycott wrote in his column for The Telegraph."Zak Crawley is a lucky lad because there is an old saying in cricket: ‘Never change a winning team.’"I don’t believe that, but some do, and because they won, England will be tempted to pick the same players. I believe in another saying: ‘When you are winning, that is when you should try to improve your team.’"The 27-year-old has already played 57 Tests for England and is averaging 30.89."How many more chances is Crawley going to get? He has learned nothing in his 57 Tests," he said."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.
Poll
Should England consider replacing Zak Crawley as opener?
"It was just a replay of too many of his dismissals.
Time to go. Five hundreds and an average of 31 is not good enough."Boycott said the Australian troika of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood will be waiting for Crawley to play in the Ashes, and it is not a good sign for the England team."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."

For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
author
About the Author
TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

End of Article
Follow Us On Social Media