Zak Crawley has been left out of England's squad for the three-Test series against New Zealand, the latest sign that his place at the top of the order is under review before the series begins on June 4.
The 28-year-old opener struggled through the Ashes and did not improve in the opening weeks of the County Championship season with Kent, leaving England to move on without him for a tour that will be watched closely. New Zealand will host the series in a contest that begins with England trying to reset after an uneven stretch for one of their most persistent selections.
Rob Key, England's managing director, said there were not many batters who had done enough in the Ashes to be certain of their places, and added that Crawley had not been able to respond in the same way as Ben Duckett after the series. He said Crawley now had the chance to go away and work out how to become a more reliable run-scorer, and suggested the decision would not have come as a shock. Key also said Crawley had been one of the best people in the setup to have around because of his character.
The omission comes after England's post-Ashes shake-up, with selectors weighing recent international returns alongside early-season county form. England are due to face New Zealand in a three-Test series that will be shown live on Sky Sports, and Crawley's struggles in both the Ashes and for Kent formed part of the backdrop to the call.
Michael Atherton said Crawley's position at the top of the order had become untenable. He said England had stuck with Crawley for a long time, pointing to a record of 64 Tests and a batting average of 31, but argued that those returns at Test level did not justify keeping him in the side, just as his results with Kent this season did not justify retention. Atherton said it had long been expected that Crawley would be left out, and he backed the change while stressing that nobody should be written off for good.
That leaves England with a familiar selection dilemma: whether Crawley's next chance comes quickly or whether this is the pause that forces a longer rethink. Key's view was that the door is still open if Crawley can turn the setback into a stronger run of scoring, but for now England have chosen to move into New Zealand without him.
