Cricket Dec 07, 2025

Zak Crawley: England opener fails as County Championship 2025 season gets under way

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Zak Crawley: England opener fails as County Championship 2025 season gets under way

England opener Zak Crawley's miserable run of form with the bat continued into the 2025 Rothesay County Championship as he was bowled out for one for Kent on the opening day of the season.

Crawley's stay at the crease lasted just seven balls before he was bowled by left-arm seamer Liam Guthrie when attempting to drive a fuller ball swinging back into him.

The England opener is under pressure after a run of 15 Tests without a century, with the 27-year-old averaging only 8.66 over his six innings on the winter Test tour of New Zealand. He then registered five single-figure scores when playing in eight appearances for Eastern Cape in the SA20 competition in January.

Northamptonshire ultimately bowled Kent out for 231 on day one of their Division Two clash, Raphael Weatherall taking 3-32 for the hosts, while Tawanda Muyeye top-scored with 72 for Kent.

In Division One, newly-promoted Yorkshire were skittled for a measly 121 on the opening day of their match against Hampshire.

Former England batter, and now Yorkshire captain, Jonny Bairstow managed only 10 in his side's total, with Hampshire left-arm spinner Liam Dawson - capped 20 times across all three formats - ripping through the lower order when taking 3-8 in only 4.4 overs.

Essex batter Jordan Cox gave the England selectors another reminder with a century as champions Surrey were made to toil.

Cox's ninth first-class century and fifth inside a year - a quickfire 117 from 148 balls - helped Essex close on 355-4 at Chelmsford and overshadowed opener Paul Walter's 95.

A Surrey pace attack devoid of Gus Atkinson, Dan Worrall and Tom Lawes was given some respite as Kemar Roach took two for 54 from 18 overs.

Colin Ackermann posted the first century of the season as Durham recovered to 370-9 against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

Australian pace bowler Fergus O'Neill took four for 74 on his debut for the home side, but Ackermann stole the show on his 34th birthday by making 116 as Durham battled back from 171-5.

Somerset all-rounder Kasey Aldridge claimed five wickets in a Worcestershire batting collapse at Taunton, where the home side lead by 33 runs with six wickets remaining.

Worcestershire began strongly, reaching 102-1, but were bundled out for 154, with seamer Aldridge taking 5-36 from eight overs.

Somerset stumbled to 39 for three in reply before closing on 187-4, with Tom Banton is unbeaten on 84.

Sussex recovered from 40-3 to close on 386-5 against Warwickshire at Edgbaston thanks to centuries from Tom Clark and John Simpson.

Clark struck 140 and Simpson made an unbeaten 116, sharing a 200-run partnership for the fifth wicket after Warwickshire debutant Ethan Bamber (3-75) had made an early impact.

Derbyshire made a strong start in Division Two thanks to a six-wicket haul from Luis Reece (6-52) and Anuj Dal's four for 38 against Gloucestershire.

Gloucestershire were bowled out for 222 shortly after tea, Graeme van Buuren top-scoring with 67 before Derbyshire closed on 127-2.

Leicestershire took control against Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens, bowling the hosts out for 229 - Ian Holland and Ben Mike took three wickets each - before reaching 65 for one in reply.

Lancashire made a promising start in their bid to bounce straight back to Division One in the absence of the injured James Anderson, bowling Middlesex out for 260 before replying with 68 without loss.

Lancashire's rookie seamers Tom Aspinwall (4-32) and debutant Ollie Sutton (2-57) impressed as Middlesex collapsed from 215-3 before the visitors cut the deficit to 192 with 10 wickets remaining.

Watch England's home summer live on SportNews, starting with the four-day Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge in Nottingham from May 22.

Tags:

cricket news id:13341820

Share this article

Related Posts

Australia captain Alyssa Healy bids farewell to international cricket with 10-wicket win over India

Australia captain Alyssa Healy bids farewell to international cricket with 10-wicket win over India

Alyssa Healy, Australia's captain, has led her nation for the last time as she retires from international cricket after a crushing 10-wicket win over...

IPL squads 2026: Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer, Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone among England players signed

IPL squads 2026: Jos Buttler, Jofra Archer, Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone among England players signed

Here's how the Indian Premier League squads look for the 2026 season, with Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer among the 13 English players involved.Watch al...

2026 T20 World Cup Team of the Tournament: India have four players picked from winning squad, Will Jacks and Adil Rashid represent England

2026 T20 World Cup Team of the Tournament: India have four players picked from winning squad, Will Jacks and Adil Rashid represent England

The 2026 T20 World Cup concluded with a thumping 96-run win for tournament hosts India over New Zealand, but which players have made the ICC's Team of...

Women's T20 World Cup 2026: England out to 'capture the nation' as Nat Sciver-Brunt looks to replicate Lionesses and Red Roses' success

Women's T20 World Cup 2026: England out to 'capture the nation' as Nat Sciver-Brunt looks to replicate Lionesses and Red Roses' success

England captain Nat Sciver-Brunt hopes her side can "capture the nation" during the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup on home soil this summer.The tournament...

T20 World Cup: 'Virtually unbeatable' India add to white-ball dynasty as New Zealand's hearts broken again in final

T20 World Cup: 'Virtually unbeatable' India add to white-ball dynasty as New Zealand's hearts broken again in final

"I wouldn't mind breaking a few hearts," said New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner on the eve of the T20 World Cup final against India in their oppone...

ICC confirm 'safe departures' for South Africa and West Indies after bias claims at T20 World Cup amid flight disruption

ICC confirm 'safe departures' for South Africa and West Indies after bias claims at T20 World Cup amid flight disruption

The International Cricket Council has denied accusations of preferential treatment towards England after it emerged that the West Indies have had to s...