Amid cricketing superstars like Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Joe Root, and Ben Stokes, Zak Crawley has captured the imagination of fans during the Ashes 2023. The talented England opener has been in the cricketing scene since 2019, but now he has come into his own. With consistent performances and the backing of the ECB and England team management, Crawley has become the leading run-scorer in the historic Test series, leaving spectators in awe of his extraordinary talent and fearless approach.
Even at 21, Zak Crawley showed immense promise, earning his spot in the England team. However, in the Ashes 2023, he has proven his worth with a series of remarkable performances. His flamboyant innings of 61 in the Ashes opener and a crisp 48 at Lord’s displayed glimpses of his potential, but his monumental knock of 189 off 182 balls in Manchester truly stole the show.
Crawley’s 189-run innings against Australia’s formidable bowling attack comprising Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, and Mitchell Starc left former England captain Alastair Cook in awe. Cook, comparing Crawley’s fearless attitude and charisma to former Indian opener Virender Sehwag, couldn’t help but admire the young batsman’s unique strokeplay. Crawley’s ability to take frontline bowlers down with unconventional shots has set him apart and drawn comparisons to the legendary Sehwag.
“I mean, he plays shots that I could only dream of, and it was an extraordinary innings,” Cook pointed out.
Alastair Cook, known for his illustrious career, praised Crawley’s exquisite strokeplay and compared it to shots he could only dream of playing. Cook’s admiration for Crawley’s talent highlights the young batsman’s impact on the cricketing world and signifies the belief the England leadership has in his abilities.
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“I think the way Zak Crawley has played in this series. That knock was special. To score 189 out of 182 balls against the quality of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins, I think, is extraordinary. I think that potential is why Ben and Brendon have stuck with him. He plays shots that no one else can play as an opener. You can compare a bit of Sehwag regarding the ability to take frontline bowlers down. It’s unique, and when he has his day, he changes games. That’s why he’s been backed so hard by the England leadership, and they got rewarded for it,” Cook said during a media interaction arranged by Sony Sports Network.
With each performance, Zak Crawley solidifies his place in the England squad and leaves a lasting impression on cricket fans worldwide.
