‘Gun player’ Crawley backed to rack up runs for England

Jul 19, 2023 at 1:28 AM

oeen Ali says Zak Crawley is an “absolute gun player” and backed the England opener to fill his boots as soon as his sport clicks into gear.

Crawley got here into the Ashes because the English batter beneath most strain for his place after a disappointing house summer season final yr, however whereas he’s but to make a match-defining rating, he has made a number of encouraging contributions throughout the primary three Tests.

The Kent artificial a first-innings half-century within the collection opener at Edgbaston and has since added scores of seven, 48, 3, 33 and 44, usually wanting in excellent contact towards males resembling Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, earlier than succumbing in irritating trend.

“He’s really good,” stated Moeen. “He’s an absolute gun player. The faster and better the bowlers, he plays better. He’s one of the best players around. I know his average probably doesn’t say that, but the way he bats is proper. Hopefully, when it clicks for him, he’ll score a lot of runs.”

Zak Crawley and Moeen Ali play with a soccer within the nets

/ PA

Crawley’s opening partnership with Ben Duckett has blossomed because the latter was launched to the facet forward of final yr’s tour of Pakistan, with the duo averaging simply shy of 48 collectively. Their 91-run opening stand throughout the Second Test at Lord’s was England’s finest in Ashes cricket since Sir Alastair Cook and Sir Andrew Strauss throughout the 2010-11 collection, and the pair have been praised for his or her constructive intent towards Australia‘s high-class assault.

“I think what’s really impressive is the way that the two openers have been going about it and the way that they’ve been scoring and not allowing the Australian bowlers to just bowl, and I think that’s where we struggled in the other series I played in,” Moeen added. “These two have just gone out and put the pressure back on.