Invest some time and faith in opener Crawley: Michael Atherton#Invest #Crawley

Sydney, Jan 8 : Former England captain Michael Atherton believes the selectors should look at young Zak Crawley for a long-term openers role after Rory Burns has disappointed in the Ashes series.

While none of the England openers have fared well in the series so far, Atherton felt that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) could "invest some time and faith" in the 23-year-old Crawley.

Burns and partner Haseeb Hameed disappointed in the first two Tests, forcing coach Chris Silverwood to include Crawley in the playing XI for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG at Burns expense.Crawley has looked the most confident of the trio but has yet to register a decent score.

Analysing Englands top-order collapse in the first innings in the SCG Test, currently underway, Atherton said, "They were loose shots, unusually so from Hameed, whos not that sort of player really.""He is generally a player who tries to take the ball on its merits, and that ball merited a solid defensive shot really, rather than an expansive drive.

Crawley is a little bit different, hes someone that likes to take the game on and take it to the bowlers, and I dont mind that," he told SEN Test Cricket on Friday."I personally would invest some time and faith in Crawley, I think hes got a bit of presence at the crease, and if youve scored a double-hundred in Test cricket, as he has, I dont believe that theres not a future for you in the game.

Albeit he does need to tighten up technically," said Atherton.akm/ Crawley is someone I would trust.Hes got presence and pace.

If you have a double-hundred runs in Test cricket (as he has), I believe theres a bright future ahead of you.Atherton said that he needs to improve his technical skills.#Invest #Crawley #Michael #Atherton #Cricket #BCCI #ICC #IPL #Sports #Jan.