ENGLAND TO BACK ZAK

CRICKET - 1ST TEST INQUEST: AXE WON’T BE SWUNG AHEAD OF MANCHESTER CRUNCH CLASH | McCullum’s loyalty vow after batting flop at Lord’s

- Gary FITZGERALD

UNDER-PRESSURE Zak Crawley has been given Brendon McCullum’s full backing to carry on opening the England batting in Manchester and prove he can still be a Test success.

Boss McCullum is prepared to give the struggling Kent star another chance in the second clash with South Africa, starting on Thursday, although Crawley is struggling for form and confidence.

He was out cheaply again as England’s exciting new Test world came crashing down with an innings and 12-run hammering at Lord’s inside two and a half days.

Crawley, 24, has managed a meagre 164 runs from his last 10 Test knocks and looked out of sorts against the impressive Proteas bowling attack but McCullum insists there will be no sudden changes to the side.

He said: “You want to keep giving guys opportunities and then their skill and talent can come out.