ZAK TO THE FUTURE

Crawley finds his feet with a first Test century

ZAK CRAWLEY revealed his career flashed before his eyes as he reached his first Test century in the third meeting with Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl.

The England batsman, right, playing in his eighth Test, made his best first-class score of 171 not out as he and Jos Buttler put the tourists’ bowlers to the sword in an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 205. With just three previous first-class hundreds behind him and plenty to prove, Crawley has repaid the faith shown in him to put England in the driving seat in the final Test of the summer.

The Kent batsman, 22, said: “It feels great to get the hundred and

it was just how I imagined it. My career so far flashed before my eyes and I was absolutely buzzing.

“I could kind of see all the nets I’d done in the past and all the time I had gone on my own to hit some balls.

“It all seemed worth it.

“You do question yourself when you’re in a run of low scores, but this was a feeling that it was all worth it and it was a great feeling. I felt like I had a lot to prove and I still do.

“But it was nice to get that score today and get that monkey off my back.

“I still feel like I’m early in my career, still learning quite a bit every time I go out and bat.

“It was nice to score runs today and I definitely feel more comfortable in myself, having scored a hundred. There’s still plenty of hard work to do to prove myself at this level.”

Crawley, left, and Buttler are looking forward to more landmarks ahead of them on day two after their unbroken double-century stand.

Bromley-born Crawley admitted his half-century in a second Test ruined by the rain helped him coming into this game.

“It was nice to have a good look at them,” he added. “It was challenging on that wicket so it was a bit easier having had a look at them and then bat on a better wicket.

“It was good to get a sighter of Yasir Shah first, it definitely helped.”