England’s stance on declaring in Ashes Test against Australia
England star Zak Crawley has revealed the Three Lions have no plans to declare following their impressive start to the second Test of the Ashes against Australia. The tourists ended the day on 325-9, with Joe Root finally hitting his first century Down Under, reports BritPanorama.
Crawley also impressed with the bat, scoring a total of 76 runs from just 93 deliveries. The visitors are currently well-poised, with Root (135) and Jofra Archer (32) still at the crease going into day two.
However, Crawley emphasised that England has no immediate intention of declaring, stating it hasn’t crossed their minds so far. “No talk of declaring. If the boys go hard and get out, it’s a win-win,” he said. He added, “They went hard and it came off. A valuable 50 runs. We were happy.”
On his own performance, Crawley expressed satisfaction, particularly after struggling in the previous Test in Perth. “I felt good – much better than Perth. I was just trying to keep it simple, score straight and on the leg side,” he noted. His focus was to keep his plan straightforward, noting the importance of the first ten overs with the ball on the following day.
Meanwhile, Australia’s Alex Carey shared mixed feelings about the day’s play, acknowledging a good start with the ball before England’s strong partnership between Crawley and Root. “That late partnership was crucial for them. Could’ve been worse, could’ve been better,” he observed, reflecting on the competitive nature of the match.
As England continues to build on their position, the dynamics of the game highlight how precariously balances can shift, a familiar tale in the Ashes where every moment is punctuated by intense rivalries and high stakes.
