CARRY ON H-OPENING CRAWLEY

McCullum won't throw Zak under the bus

- GARY FITZGERALD

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

Boss McCullum is prepared to give the struggling Kent star another shot in the second clash with South Africa starting on Thursday, despite him struggling badly for form and confidence.

Crawley has endured a miserable summer with the bat.

He was out cheaply again as England's exciting new Test world came crashing down with their hammering by an innings and 12 runs from South Africa at Lord's well inside three days.

The 24-year-old has managed a meagre 164 runs from his last 10 Test knocks.

And some former players have suggested it would be kinder for Crawley to remove him from the firing line for a while.

He looked out of sorts against the potent Proteas attack but McCullum refuses to give up hope and insists there will be no sudden changes.