Crawley revival locks in England’s Ashes openers – and the Konstas lesson Australia must learn from it

England’s high-voltage top order is now set in stone – giving the tourists their most imposing Ashes batting line-up ever. But there lies a lesson for Australia and their own top-order woes.

As Australia prepares for its latest round of musical openers, England have oiled their squeakiest wheel and are ready to launch their greatest Ashes assault in Australia for 15 years.

Much to the relief of England’s selectors who had stood by him throughout a harrowing form slide, cavalier opener Zak Crawley ended a run of modest scores by making 84 off just 113 balls in the fourth Test against India at Old Trafford.

There had been widespread calls for Crawley’s axing but this ensures there is no doubt about his place on the plane to Australia as opening partner to pocket rocket Ben Duckett, who made 94 in a pivotal opening stand of 166 with Crawley as England reached 2-225 chasing India’s 358.

As Australia prepares for a nationwide audition in the first four rounds of the Sheffield Shield to find Usman Khawaja’s Ashes opening partner, England’s openers are now locked in.

Zak Crawley made a return to form in the fourth Test against India. Picture: Getty

They are men of contrasts – Crawley is tall and right handed, Duckett is small and left-handed but this magnifies the challenge for bowlers who are constantly adjusting their “left-right-big man-small man’’ line and lengths in the way they once had to do for Matt Hayden and Justin Langer.

England’s team for the first Ashes Test in Perth is not set in stone.

Seamer Chris Woakes is playing in England but he has a modest record abroad and could easily lose his place and injured spinner Shaoib Bashir could be usurped by the more experienced left-armer Liam Dawson.

But the robust, high voltage top order is now set.

Harry Brook’s unconventional style is a key cog in England’s high-octane batting attack. Picture: Getty

With four of the top 15 batsmen in the world rankings – Joe Root (1), Harry Brook (3), Jamie Smith (10) and Ben Duckett (15) – and a non-existent tail, England will field arguably their most imposing batting line-up ever to tour Australia.

England’s 3-1 win over Australia in 2010-11 remains their only success in their last nine series in Australia, most of which have seen English batting orders ripped apart by Australian bowling attacks and having their own bowlers flounder with the Kookaburra ball.

Sam Konstas is in a dire run of form – but one England great believes he could be worth persisting with. Picture: AP

England’s former outstanding fast bowler Steve Harmison said he would play Marnus Labuschagne at three and open with either Nathan McSweeney or Sam Konstas in the Ashes.

“You have to be careful when you drop someone (like Labuschange) and think the grass is greener on the other side,’’ Harmison told talkSPORT radio.

“I don’t think it was. I would bat Labuschagne three for Australia in the Ashes because of his experience and because he has a bit of an aura in that he has scored Test match runs.

“I would open with either Sam Konstas or Nathan McSweeney. But stick whoever you punt on and it is a punt. You need to put up with Konstas’ unpredictability like we do with Zak Crawley.’’

* Live commentary of the final two Tests of the England v India series are available in Australia on the talkSPORT Cricket YouTube Channel.

Originally published as Crawley revival locks in England’s Ashes openers – and the Konstas lesson Australia must learn from it