Crawley: I watch my 267 a lot ... I'm a better player now

ZAK CRAWLEY’S young Test career has been a story of contrasts: elegant, attractive strokes — that pull in front of square — alongside ugly statistics — that first-class average of 31. There have been dizzying highs (267 in one innings) and crushing lows (268 in his next 18).

- Will Macpherson

But one of the qualities England admire about Crawley is his unflappable demeanour. He has a voracious work ethic, no social media accounts or interest in what is being said or written about him, and describes himself as “a calm head” in a “really tense” changing room as England battled for their whitewash-averting draw at Sydney on Sunday.

Crawley, 23, had set England on their way, with his classy 77 that impressed even Ian Chappell, the former Australia captain who has been utterly scathing about almost everything English on this tour. Crawley loved the experience.

“I was as annoyed as I’ve ever been when I got out,” says Crawley, having been yorked by Cameron Green. “But while it lasted in the middle, it was not far off the most fun I’ve ever had on a cricket field, I absolutely loved it.”

In his second innings of 2022, Crawley looked a different cricketer to the one that averaged 11 last year. He learned from that, though, not to expect more runs to follow. He regularly watches footage of his 267 against Pakistan in 2020 to inspire him, but is also grateful for the struggles that followed.

“It’s always nice to get a score and I certainly take confidence into the next game [in Hobart on Friday], but we all know what cricket is like and I would have said the 267 was a springboard for me,” he said. “And in 2021, it certainly wasn’t a springboard.