Zak Crawley

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Zak Crawley
Personal information
Full nameZak Crawley
Born (1998-02-03) 3 February 1998 (age 23)
Bromley, Greater London
Height6 ft 5[1] in (1.96 m)
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm offbreak
RoleBatsman
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 695)29 November 2019 v New Zealand
Last Test4 August 2021 v India
ODI debut (cap 260)8 July 2021 v Pakistan
Last ODI13 July 2021 v Pakistan
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2015–Kent (squad no. 16)
2021London Spirit
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA
Matches 15 3 61 26
Runs scored 737 97 3,146 840
Batting average 28.34 48.50 30.84 36.52
100s/50s 1/4 0/1 5/18 1/5
Top score 267 58* 267 120
Balls bowled – – 66 12
Wickets – – 0 0
Bowling average – – – –
5 wickets in innings – – – –
10 wickets in match – – – –
Best bowling – – – –
Catches/stumpings 13/– 4/– 51/– 15/–
Source: CricInfo, 8 August 2021

Zak Crawley (born 3 February 1998) is an English professional cricketer who plays for Kent County Cricket Club. He has played Test cricket and One Day Internationals for the England cricket team.

Crawley is a top-order batsman who has been described as "very strong" technically[2] and as a "natural stroke maker".[3] He made his international debut for England in November 2019 in the second Test match of England's tour of New Zealand. Following a score of 267 runs in 2020, he was named as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in the 2021 edition of the almanack.

Early life[]

Crawley was born in Bromley in south-east London and was educated at New Beacon School and Tonbridge School.[4][5] He represented Kent from under-13 level onwards and is a graduate of the Kent Cricket Academy who played club cricket for Holmesdale Cricket Club, Knockholt Cricket Club and Sevenoaks Vine.[6] He made his Second XI debut for the county in 2013 aged 15[7][8] and signed his first professional contract with the club at the end of the 2015 season during which he had become a regular Second XI player and was selected for the England Elite Player Development for London programme.[9][10][11] During the 2016–17 English winter Crawley played Western Australian Grade Cricket for Wembley Districts.[12]

Cricket career[]

Crawley made his senior debut for Kent in the 2017 Royal London Cup against Essex at Canterbury on 17 May 2017.[13] He made his first-class debut for Kent against the touring West Indians on 6 August 2017 during the 166th Canterbury Cricket Week, scoring 62 runs in his debut first-class innings before going on to make his County Championship debut for the county at the end of the same month.[14][15] After playing in four Championship matches for the county during the tail-end of the season he signed a contract extension with Kent in October 2017.[6][16][17]

Crawley was part of Kent squad for the 2017–18 Regional Super50 competition in the West Indies in early 2018. He scored his maiden List A cricket half century in Kent's opening match of the competition against Guyana, scoring 60 runs as an opening batsman,[18][19] before going on to score 99 not out against the Leeward Islands in the county's third match of the tournament.[20] The match ended in controversial circumstances with the opposing Leeward Islands bowling wide balls in what was seen by some as an attempt to deny Crawley the opportunity to reach his century.[21]

During the 2018 season Crawley became a regular in the Kent side, playing in all of the team's first-class matches as well as occasional limited overs games. He was Kent's third highest run scorer in the County Championship with 755 runs scored at an average of 31.46 runs per innings.[22] After twice being dismissed in the 90s he scored his maiden first-class century in the final home match of the season, making 168 against Glamorgan at Canterbury in September[23][24] and signed a contract extension at the end of the season[22] before playing New South Wales Grade cricket during the 2018/19 winter.[25] Playing for Sydney Cricket Club, he set a new record for the fastest century scored in the competition, making 100 from 42 balls in the T20 Cup against Sutherland District Cricket Club.[26]

International call-up[]

Although averaging fewer than 35 runs per innings in county cricket in 2018 and 2019, Crawley was seen as a potential international batsman.[27][28] Following a series of good batting performances at the start of the 2019 season, including scoring two centuries, Crawley made his England Lions debut in a four-day match against an Australian XI in July at Canterbury, the first time he had played for any England side.[29][30] He scored 820 County Championship runs during the season and, in September 2019, was named in the England cricket team's Test match squad for their 2019/20 tour of New Zealand, one of four uncapped players included in the squad for the tour.[27][31][32] After scoring a century in a warm-up match,[33][34] Crawley was brought into the team for the second Test following an injury to Jos Buttler, making his debut at Seddon Park on 29 November aged 21.[35]

After scoring only one run on debut, batting at number 6, he was retained in the squad for the tour of South Africa in December and January. Following an injury to opening batsman Rory Burns, Crawley made his second Test appearance in the second Test against South Africa, this time opening the batting. His "excellent temperament"[36] and "unflustered" approach were praised as was his bravery against short-pitched bowling,[37] although some technical issues with his batting were also commented on.[36][37] He made scores of 4 and 25 in the match, but also took two "vital" catches during the final innings of the match.[38][39] He went on to play in the remaining two matches of the series, scoring his first Test half-century in the final match.[40]

International arrival in 2020[]

Crawley signed a three-year contract extension with Kent in March 2020.[40] In May, he was named in a group of 55 players to begin training ahead of international fixtures during the COVID-19 pandemic[41][42] and in June was included in England's 30-man squad to start training behind closed doors for the Test series against the West Indies.[43][44] He played in the first two Tests of the summer, scoring 76 in the second innings of the first Test to increase his Test match highest score,[45] before playing in the second Test against Pakistan in August, scoring a half-century in a rain-affected match.[46]

He went on to make his maiden Test century in the following match, his eighth Test match, scoring 171 not out on the first day, passing his previous best first-class score in the process.[3][47][48] On the second day of the match, Crawley went on to score 267 runs before being stumped, an innings which included a new England fifth wicket record partnership of 359 runs with Jos Buttler.[49] Crawley's 267 became the second-highest maiden century scored by an England batsman in Test cricket, behind R. E. Foster's 287, and he became the third-youngest double centurion for England.[50][51] Crawley's performances during 2020 led to him being named as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in the 2021 edition of the almanack.[52]

The following winter, Crawley was selected for the England tours of Sri Lanka and India.[53][54] In the lead up to the Indian series, he sprained his wrist after slipping while exiting the dressing room and missed the first two matches.[55] He returned to the side for the third Test, top-scoring with 53 runs in England's first innings[56] before playing in the home series against New Zealand. His batting in the series included three innings of fewer than five runs and was described as a "torrid time", with his best innings a score of 17 runs.[57]

Following the raced isolation of most of the England One Day International (ODI) squad after a COVID-19 outbreak, Crawley was named in the revised squad for their series against the touring Pakistanis in July 2021.[57][58] He made his ODI debut in the first match of the series, scoring an unbeaten half-century.[59]

References[]

  1. ^ Martin A (2020) Zak Crawley ready to stake his claim for England's No 3 berth against West Indies, The Guardian, 2020-06-25. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  2. ^ Dobell G (2019) 'Signs are good' for prospective England debutant Zak Crawley - Paul Collingwood, CricInfo, 2019-11-28. Retrieved 2019-11-28.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Marks V (2020) Zak Crawley's mammoth century puts England in early control of third Test, The Guardian, 2020-08-21. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  4. ^ Zak Crawley, CricInfo. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  5. ^ Greenslade N (2020) Zak Crawley and Ben Earl: The schoolmates who have risen to the top together, The Sunday Times, 2020-04-25. Retrieved 2020-08-21. (subscription required)
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b Kent Cricket hand young batsman Zak Crawley long-term contract extension, Kent Online, 2017-10-24. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  7. ^ Kent County Cricket Club Annual 2017, p.26, Kent County Cricket Club, 2017.
  8. ^ Reigate Priory have a number of new faces on show in Sevenoaks friendly, Surrey Mirror, 2014-04-22. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  9. ^ Zak Crawley signs first professional contract with Kent, Kent County Cricket Club, 2015-10-27. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  10. ^ Sealey L (2015) Bromley-born batsman Zak Crawley signs first professional contract with Kent, News Shopper, 2015-10-27. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  11. ^ Teenage batsman Zak Crawley signs first professional contract, Kent News, 2015-10-28. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  12. ^ Zak Crawley scores 4th fifty in Australia, Kent County Cricket Club, 2017-01-28. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
  13. ^ Essex top group to secure semi-final berth, CricInfo, 2017-05-17. Retrieved 2017-05-18.
  14. ^ Dickson dominates before West Indies hit back late, CricInfo, 2017-08-07. Retrieved 2017-08-09.
  15. ^ Radford hails workout for batsmen, CricInfo, 2017-08-08. Retrieved 2017-08-09.
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  17. ^ Pyman T (2017) Promising batsman Zak Crawley signs contract extension at Kent, Kent News, 2017-10-27. Retrieved 2017-11-01.
  18. ^ Claydon takes career-best haul in tour opener, Kent County Cricket Club, 2018-01-31. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
  19. ^ Crawley relishing Tour chance, Kent County Cricket Club, 2018-02-03. Retrieved 2018-02-04.
  20. ^ Hurricanes go down to Kent by nine wickets, Guyana Chronicle, 2018-02-06. Retrieved 2018-02-07.
  21. ^ Crawley left on 99* in controversial finish as Kent ease to victory, CricInfo, 2018-02-08. Retrieved 2018-02-08.
  22. ^ Jump up to: a b Fordham J (2018) Zak Crawley signs new contract with Kent, Kent Online, 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2018-11-05.
  23. ^ Zak Crawley overcomes his 90s nerves with maiden century, CricInfo, 2018-09-19. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
  24. ^ County Championship: Zak Crawley pushes Kent to promotion brink, BBC Sport, 2018-09-19. Retrieved 2018-09-19.
  25. ^ Turbervill H (2019) Zak Crawley and the pursuit of three figures: "I have always thought 99 is as good as 100", The Cricketer (online). Retrieved 2019-03-30.
  26. ^ Gavin D (2018) Crawley scores fastest century in Premier Cricket, Cricket NSW, 2018-12-10. Retrieved 2019-03-30.
  27. ^ Jump up to: a b Who is England’s Zak Crawley?, Wisden online, 2019-11-28. Retrieved 2020-08-32.
  28. ^ Wigmore T (2020) Poor first-class average but made for Test cricket? Zak Crawley shows he can learn on the job, The Daily Telegraph, 2020-07-11. Retrieved 2020-08-21. (subscription required)
  29. ^ Hogwood C (2019) Kent opener Zak Crawley called up by England Lions, Kent Online, 2019-07-06. Retrieved 2019-07-12.
  30. ^ Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley in England Lions squad to face Australia A, CricInfo, 2019-07-06. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
  31. ^ Barstow dropped from England Test squad for New Zealand series, International Cricket Council, 2019-09-23. Retrieved 2019-09-23.
  32. ^ A closer look at England’s Test newcomers, Darlington & Stockton Times, 2019-09-23. Retrieved 2019-09-24.
  33. ^ Charlesworth D (2019) Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley score centuries in England warm-up against New Zealand, The Independent, 2019-11-12. Retrieved 2019-11-28.
  34. ^ Martin A (2019) England's Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley record debut centuries in tour match, The Guardian, 2019-11-12. Retrieved 2019-11-28.
  35. ^ England in New Zealand: Zak Crawley makes debut & Ollie Pope keeps, BBC Sport, 2019-11-28. Retrieved 2019-11-28.
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  37. ^ Jump up to: a b Currie D (2020) Zak Crawley's confident Test opening for England hints at promise to come, Sky Sports, 2020-01-05. Retrieved 2020-01-05.
  38. ^ Marks V (2020) Zak Crawley catching the eye for England in the field after promotion, The Guardian, 2020-01-09. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  39. ^ Ehantharajah V (2020) England’s Zak Crawley enjoying fighting fire with fire in Test match cauldron, The Independent, 2020-01-09. Retrieved 2020-01-09.
  40. ^ Jump up to: a b Zak Crawley: England opener signs new Kent contract until 2022, BBC Sport, 2020-03-05. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
  41. ^ England Men confirm back-to-training group, England and Wales Cricket Board, 2020-05-29. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  42. ^ Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett left out as England name 55-man training group, CricInfo, 2020-05-29. Retrieved 2020-05-29.
  43. ^ England announce 30-man training squad ahead of first West Indies Test, International Cricket Council, 2020-06-17. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  44. ^ Moeen Ali back in Test frame as England name 30-man training squad, CricInfo, 2020-06-17. Retrieved 2020-06-17.
  45. ^ Shemilt S (2020) England v West Indies: Joe Denly left out of second Test, BBC Sport, 2020-07-15. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
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  48. ^ Shemilt S (2020) England v Pakistan: Zak Crawley shines bright in making maiden Test century, BBC Sport, 2020-08-21. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  49. ^ 'A great kid to bat with': Jos Buttler praises Zak Crawley after huge stand, The Guardian, 2020-08-21. Retrieved 2020-08-23
  50. ^ Zak Crawley: How did he become England's third-youngest double centurion?, Sky Sports, 2020-08-23. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  51. ^ Seervi B (2020) Zak Crawley's 267 second-highest maiden century by an England batsman, CricInfo, 2020-08-22. Retrieved 2020-08-23
  52. ^ Ben Stokes: Wisden name England all-rounder leading cricketer in world again, BBC Sport, 2021-04-14. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  53. ^ Dobell G (2021) Zak Crawley out to prove he is no 'one-hit wonder' in Sri Lanka after epic 267 against Pakistan, CricInfo, 2021-01-06. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  54. ^ India v England: Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer return to Joe Root's squad for first two Tests in Ahmedabad, BBC Sport, 2021-01-21. Retrieved 2021-01-23.
  55. ^ India v England: Zak Crawley out of first two Tests with sprained wrist Last updated on, BBC Sport, 2021-02-04. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
  56. ^ Shemilt S (2021) India v England: Axar Patel takes 6-38 as tourists fold for 112, BBC Sport, 2021-02-24. Retrieved 2021-02-24.
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  58. ^ England ODI squad forced to self-isolate after positive Covid-19 tests, CricInfo, 2021-07-06. Retrieved 2021-07-09.
  59. ^ Dobell G (2021) England showcase strength in depth as Saqib Mahmood blows Pakistan away, CricInfo, 2021-07-08. Retrieved 2021-07-09.

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