1. From Two Ducks to 76 Points: A Necessary Redemption
After being eliminated in the first round of both frames in Perth, Crowley entered Brisbane carrying the label of “Ashley’s Nightmare,” a psychological burden that would be difficult for any opening player to bear. Facing Mitchell Stark, the same player who had twice defeated him in the first frame, he still faced danger in the opening shots, but finally caught up with the rhythm and let the scoreboard climb at his own pace.
Ultimately, he only needed 93 balls to reach 76 points, including 11 points off the line, temporarily changing his previous “unreliable” image to “standing firm in chaotic situations.” Although he failed to extend this frame to 100, and was instead eliminated after attempting a topspin shot against Nesse, he had already completed the most difficult climb in England’s journey from 5-2 to triple digits.
2. The Key Partnership with Root: From 5-2 to Safety
The true significance of Crowley’s 76 points lay in its ability to underpin his 117-point partnership with Joe Root. When Duckett and Pope were both eliminated by Stark with zero points, and the scoreboard read 5-2, this new and old duo were tasked with the dual mission of “stopping the bleeding and launching a counterattack.”
In this partnership, Crowley was responsible for decisively taking shots on opportunities and maintaining the rhythm, while Root acted as a solid foundation, gradually suppressing the “familiar sense of England’s collapse” that had been hanging over Gabbana. By the time Crowley left the court, Root had firmly established control, ultimately achieving his first Test 100 in Australia with 135 points and remaining in play. England’s first-day objective thus shifted from “safety” to “a win.”
3. Crowley’s Shots: The Trade-offs Behind Beautiful Drives
On this day, Crowley once again showcased the familiar “aesthetics of an English opener”: an upright stance, an extended swing, and drive through the cover zone, drawing gasps of admiration from the stands. He was particularly effective against Naise, constantly hitting shots from the perimeter and forcing the pressure back onto Stark.
But behind these beautiful shots, risks were constantly lurking: early in the game, he narrowly escaped a re-evaluation with a shot that appeared to glide slightly off the line, and he also repeatedly hit shots from the outside, far from his body. Rather than saying he completely abandoned his “adventurous” habits, it’s more accurate to say that in this game, he kept the risks within a manageable range, allowing his strengths to outweigh his weaknesses for a sufficient amount of time.
4. The “Perfect Hour” at the End of the Inning: From Protagonist to Witness in the Audience
After Crowley left the ring, the story didn’t end—instead, it was propelled to another climax by the late bursts of energy from Rutter and Archer. In the crucial hour when the pink ball was at its best, England didn’t give up. Instead, they let the number 9 and 11 pair continue their relentless attack under the cover of night, extending their partnership to 70 points and raising the total to 334.
Crawley, sitting on the sidelines changing back into his white jersey to prepare for his defensive duties the next day, watched Rutger and Archer create a spectacular final hour under the lights. He later called it “the perfect last hour for England.” For him personally, that hour symbolized that this time, he didn’t leave the field prematurely before a major collapse, but instead led the team to a position where they could look up at the scoreboard with their heads held high.
5. Significance: A 76-point inning carries trust and time
This 76-point inning won’t immediately erase all the controversies surrounding Crawley; his technical characteristics and risk-taking habits remain. But after Ashes, Gabba, and two bagels, this day’s performance temporarily answered a crucial question: when England decided to continue entrusting him with the opening innings, it wasn’t entirely without reason.
More importantly, he won back something incredibly valuable in the world of top-level sports with this game—time. In the subsequent matches, people will undoubtedly scrutinize every drive and every shot he takes, but at least in this Brisbane twilight and night, he has written a chapter of his story related to “perseverance” with a series of impressive scores.
