Crawley’s response to adversity shows he has character to go with his talent

Zak Crawley’s whole innings was a joy to watch. Purposeful, positive and so technically correct. It was as if he had walked straight out of the MCC coaching book.

I never have a problem with unorthodox players because there have been some oddball batsmen who have occasionally prospered in Test cricket over the years. In the end, runs are the only criterion that matters, and they come in all shapes and sizes.

What I would say, though, is that textbook batsmen find it easier to get out of a slump. If you are trying to fix a machine that is not firing right, then simplicity of design is an asset. The more moving parts, the harder the problem is to solve.

No matter how good any young player looks, most of us have had low periods when form and runs desert us. It is how you react to failure or adversity that matters. What I liked about Crawley was the way he responded to an awkward situation this summer when, in the second Test against West Indies, he made 0 and 11. And then Ben Stokes’s thigh injury encouraged England to play an extra bowler, with the consequence that Crawley was left out of the next two Tests.

That must have hurt him, and made him wonder if he had missed his chance. But how well he has fought back. When he got another go in the second Test of this series, he made 53 and now he has posted a magnificent 171 with, hopefully, more to come.

I see Crawley as England’s biggest plus of this strange

Laying the platform: Zak Crawley walks off at lunch with captain Joe Root, before batting another two sessions for an unbeaten 171

summer. I loved his footwork. When he plays forward to defend or attack, he has a comfortable big stride with a lovely bent left knee that allows his head to get over the ball. It is perfect.

He is strong off his pads, and his off-driving is superb. Pleasing on the eye, with sweet timing, it was a delightful first Test century. The whole innings should give every England supporter confidence that we have found a good one and at such a young age – just 22. I shall enjoy watching his development.

One thing that worries me is that England might try to move Crawley up to open the innings, just when he has found his feet at No3. Jos Buttler is batting so well now at No6 that they might think about dropping Rory Burns to

make way for the returning Ben Stokes. For me, that would be a mistake.

In Test-match cricket, all teams need specialist opening batsmen. It is the most difficult position, and I do not want to see Crawley or Ollie Pope shunted up the order at this formative stage of their careers.

Both Burns and Dom Sibley have shown plenty of character, which I like. Opening the innings against fast bowlers, some of whom are trying to hurt you as well as get you out, is not for the fainthearted. Both of them are mentally strong and have patience and concentration. But they need better technique as well.

This is where the England coaches need to earn their money. There is a nice long break now

before the Test team are supposed to be going to India in January. And who knows whether that series will even be happening, with the pandemic still running out of control.

In that time, the openers need to work on their weaknesses. In Sibley’s case, his poor grip inhibits and limits any offside stroke play. Far too often, he puts his left foot on the wrong side of the ball, so he has to play around that front pad to the onside.

Burns, also, is overbalancing too much. And it is not about the head – it is about the position of his front foot. He has been made aware of it and is trying to do better, but it will take a great deal of practice to hone that change so that it happens instinctively.