Zak Crawley turns the tide in Antigua
The English cricket team would not like to remember 2021. In eight of the 15 Tests that year, the top five had collapsed for 67 runs or fewer.
The script went according to West Indies’ plan in the first Test against England at North Sound, Antigua this fortnight. It had a healthy lead of 64 after the first two innings ; West Indies 375, England 311.
When Kemar Roach trapped opener Alex Lees in front of his stumps at 24/1 in the third innings there was no expectation of an England fightback, but Zak Crawley had plans. The righthanded batter reached the threefigure mark for the first time since scoring 267 against Pakistan at the Ageas Bowl in 2020.
Crawley pushed his average above 30 and hit 16 boundaries for his 121 off 216 balls. He stitched a partnership of 201 with skipper Joe Root, who, too got to his century (109). England declared at 349/6. West Indies finished at 147/4 and the Test ended in a draw.