Off the back of Ashes success, Zak Crawley is eager to light up white-ball cricket
- Planet Sport writer
- 7 August 2023
After finishing as England's top run scorer in the Ashes, Zak Crawley is seeking white-ball glory.
Crawley reeled off 480 runs in nine innings in the drawn series against Australia, including a remarkable 189 at Emirates Old Trafford, topping the averages with 53.33 and fully repaying the faith he had been shown in leaner times.
Now, having banished the speculation over his place in the Test XI, the 25-year-old is eager to branch out and find a role in the ODI or T20 sides.
England will not be unpacking their whites again until their January tour of India and, with no more Test cricket for the rest of the year, he has plenty of time to expand his horizons.
He returned to action for London Spirit on Sunday, just six days after the conclusion of his Ashes exertions, only for rain to prevent him testing out his 'Bazball' blueprint on the 100-ball format.
He gets another chance against Southern Brave on Wednesday and insists his desire to crack the short-form game means there is no sense of anti-climax following a series which gripped the nation.
"I'm motivated for every game I play. When I go out to bat in The Hundred, it's going to mean just as much to me as walking out in the Ashes," he said.
"Obviously on the outside that is hyped up a bit more, but I want to play well every time I play and stake my claim in white-ball cricket.
"I haven't had a chance to play a lot of T20 cricket in the last few years, so I feel the next month or so is a good chance to work on it quite a bit, show people I can play it and state my name for England.
"The opportunity to play white ball for England is certainly on my mind. I'm sure it's on every county player's mind and I'm no different to that.
"The game is moving in that direction. Test cricket is still the most important thing to me but I certainly don't want to get left behind on the white ball side."
Crawley, who won three ODI caps as part of a scratch squad of Covid-19 replacements in 2021, already has a sound starting point. Unlike many openers, he has a track record as an early starter and his cover drive for four off the very first ball of the Ashes is already baked in as a classic moment.
He also scored his runs at a strike-rate of 88.72, more than double that of Usman Khawaja - the only man to make more than him across the five Tests - and is confident his innate aggression makes him a good fit for the limited-overs arena.
Speaking at the launch of a KP Snacks community initiative, which will fund 100 new pitches over the next three years, Crawley said: "I feel I've got the game. I don't feel I have to do too much different - that can help.
"I try and play pretty similar shots, perhaps go bit more aerial, but it's just the mindset of being nice and aggressive but not going too far and losing my shape. But my base game is the same and I'll try to score off every ball."
Although the last two months are likely to go down as a landmark moment in his career, Crawley is eager not dwell on his recent achievements and is happier thinking about the impact his side may have had on the game at large.
"I don't (feel any different) to be honest. I just feel like the same bloke who got a few runs," he said.
"I'm glad kids are getting the game over the Ashes, it was a great series and awesome to be part of.
"I'm hoping participation will grow. That's what The Hundred is all about, it seems kids really buy into it and in turn they'll learn to love Test cricket as well."
