Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
Zak’s a class act
DOWNTON TIPS CRAWLEY TO SHINE IN WEST INDIES
Kent’s director of cricket Paul Downton is backing Zak Crawley to have a successful England series in the West Indies.
Crawley has retained his place as part of a new-look 16-man squad after England’s Ashes defeat in Australia, although he didn’t get off to the best of starts, making just eight in the first innings of the first Test in Antigua, while opening partner Alex Lees was out for four. Right-handed Crawley burst onto the international stage with a brilliant 267 against Pakistan in 2020 but hasn’t scored an international century since.
But he did make a fluent 77 in Sydney and built up to the first Test with 62 against a Cricket West Indies President’s XI. Downton thinks it’s only a matter of time before Crawley comes good for his country. “I think that 70-odd he scored in Sydney really changed the narrative about England’s batting in Australia,” he said. “He is somebody who oozes class. I think the Australians couldn’t believe that he hadn’t been playing more or that he had such a bad run really - his numbers don’t back up his talent yet.
“But to my mind, it’s only a matter of time before he establishes himself and then I think he will become a very strong feature and fixture in the England side. I know he is very determined.
“He is looking forward to it - a left-handed, right-handed combination with Alex Lees, which will have a very new look. They are both big, tall, guys and will have the ability to score runs, as well as just occupy the crease. I expect him to do well.” Alongside Crawley, teammate Sam Billings now also has an England Test cap under his belt and, although the Kent skipper has not been selected for the tour of West Indies, Billings is keen to add to his sole Test appearance in Hobart. Billings is expected to be involved for England this summer in the shorter format of the game. Commenting on Kent’s communications with the England Cricket Board more broadly, Downton added: “Our strategy at Kent is to find and develop talent in the county, develop that talent so that they can play for Kent and, ideally, if players are good enough, for players to go on and play for England.
“We are very proud of our England players.
“Zak is centrally-contracted this year, so England have first call on him. Hopefully he will have a good series in the West Indies and really establish himself as ‘The’ opening batter in the England set-up. “Sam of course knows now, having played a Test match, that he can do it. We will see what (Jos) Buttler does, we will see what (Jonny) Bairstow does - and I think (Ben) Foakes will be given a run. But Sam quite rightly could see himself as number two in the country potentially.
“I know he’d love nothing more than to play more Tests for England than just the one. I think it’s great. “Underneath that, we want to be providing players to the Lions.
“The Lions tour was a funny one this year but I know Matt Milnes and Ollie Robinson will be competing there - to name just two.”