England unravelled after the opener’s unlovely dismissal on 76 but blaming him for India’s bowling brilliance feels unfair
With Zak Crawley, the ball is always Baz. His initial selection, with a first-class average of 31, was a classic of the genre – though it came under Ed Smith’s light blue-shirted tenure as England national selector. His maiden Test century – 267 against Pakistan in his eighth Test – was full of carefree, glorious strokeplay as well as a heady handful of risk. His subsequent England career, full of more ups and downs than a dally across the Wainwrights, has riled spectators in equal measure to thrilling them.
His innings in Visakhapatnam could not have been designed better to split Engalnd fans, reviewing the situation over breakfast on a grey February morning. No one could deny his 76 at just over a run a ball was terrific. He unfolded those long legs and long arms to maximum effect – subduing Ravichandran Ashwin, and brunching off early Jasprit Bumrah.