England’s batting collapse against New Zealand in the opening Test at Lord’s drew a lot of criticism on social media, but a fierce reaction came from the Iceland Cricket account, which couldn’t resist taking a swipe at the struggling hosts.After England were bowled out for just 140 runs in their first innings on Thursday, Iceland Cricket posted a cheeky message on X that caught the attention of fans.“You can have it. Zack Crowley Physically out of the England team, but his spirit is still there.”
Iceland Cricket Post
This post was in reference to England’s recent selection changes ahead of the three-match series against New Zealand. Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope were both left out of the squad, with the selectors opting for a new-look batting line-up. However, after England’s top order collapsed at Lord’s, Iceland Cricket joked that Crowley’s influence was being felt despite his absence.The joke came after a miserable day with the bat for England. Resuming at 24-1 after a rain stoppage, the hosts suffered a dramatic collapse in the post-lunch session, losing seven wickets for 94 runs as New Zealand’s seamers took complete control.Will O’Rourke and Kyle Jamieson Made good use of the favorable conditions to take five wickets, while Nathan Smith claimed two more. England’s top order had no answer as Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethel, Joe Root And Jamie Smith all went cheap.At one stage, New Zealand looked capable of bowling England out for an even lower score, but Harry Brooke offered some resistance. The right-hander waged a lone battle, scoring 56 runs and accounting for more than a third of England’s total. He was given two assists during his innings after being dropped for scores of 8 and 45, but none of his teammates could provide meaningful support.Skipper Ben Stokes briefly threatened to stabilize the innings before he was dismissed with a brilliant one-handed catch. Ken Williamson In the second slip. Brooke eventually fell to Nathan Smith attempting an aggressive shot, ending England’s hopes of posting a competitive first innings score.A final total of 140 left England facing an uphill battle and handed New Zealand complete control of the Test. It also provided fresh content for Iceland Cricket, whose social media account has built a reputation for mocking cricket’s biggest teams and players.This time, England’s batting woes and Crowley’s absence proved too tempting to ignore. While the former opener was nowhere near the pitch at Lord’s, Iceland Cricket’s viral post ensured his name was still part of the conversation.
