Joe Root and Ben Stokes (AP Photo)

England’s batting collapse against New Zealand in the opening Test at Lord’s was widely criticized on social media, but one of the sharpest reactions came from the Iceland Cricket account, which couldn’t resist taking a dig at the struggling hosts.After England were bowled out for just 140 runs in the first innings on Thursday, Iceland Cricket posted a cheeky message on Twitter that instantly caught the attention of fans.“You can take jack crawley Physically out of the England team, but his spirit is still there.”

iceland cricket post

The post was a 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 team, with the selectors opting for fresh batting. However, after England’s top order collapsed at Lord’s, Iceland Cricket jokingly suggested that Crawley’s influence was still being felt despite his absence.The joke came after a poor day with the bat for England. Leading 24–1 after a rain-interrupted morning, the hosts suffered a dramatic collapse in the post-lunch session, losing seven wickets for 94 runs, as New Zealand’s fast bowlers took complete control.Will O’Rourke and kyle jamison The assistant took advantage of the conditions brilliantly and took five wickets, while Nathan Smith took two more wickets. England’s top order had no answer in the form of Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell. Joe Root And Jamie Smith was all out cheaply.At one point, New Zealand looked capable of bowling out England for an even lower score, but Harry Brook put up some resistance. The right-hander struggled single-handedly, scoring 56 runs and contributing more than a third of England’s total. During his innings, he got relief twice after being out for 8 and 45 runs, but none of his teammates could provide meaningful support.Captain Ben Stokes briefly threatened to take over the innings before being dismissed with a brilliant one-handed catch. kane williamson On the second slip. Brook ultimately fell attempting an attacking shot to Nathan Smith, ending England’s hopes of a competitive score in the first innings.England faced an uphill battle at the final total of 140 and New Zealand were handed complete control of the Test. It also provided fresh content for Iceland Cricket, whose social media accounts have built a reputation for mocking cricket’s biggest teams and players.This time, England’s poor batting condition and Crawley’s absence proved too tempting to ignore. While the former opening batsman was nowhere near the Lord’s pitch, Iceland Cricket’s viral post ensured that his name was still part of the conversation.