Zak Crawley eyeing white-ball success using Bazball

The decision to only include a few players in the England side has always been debatable, and Zak Crawley has fallen victim to this lately. Some people are of the opinion that opportunities have been served to him on a plate and he has not worked hard enough to earn them. Others regard him as the high potential ‘wonderkid’ who embodies the art of the cricket game and is successfully carrying it forward with his abilities and skills. 

Everybody agrees that Zak Crawley has been steadily establishing a narrative for his selection in the white-ball format after a stint with the Hobart Hurricanes in the BBL 2023 season. In his debut match in the BBL this month, he scored a blistering 54 runs from just 28 balls to help his team reach a mammoth total of 229 runs. 

His first venture into the harsh world of overseas T20 leagues, is by far the most prominent example of a player whose ambitions surpass his Test game.

Zak Crawley’s aspiration regarding white- ball format: 

With the ODI World Cup approaching later this year, Zak Crawley says, “I massively want to get in that T20 and ODI team.” “Although I’ve always felt that playing white-ball probably comes more naturally to me, red-ball has always been my top priority and preferred format.” “It’s the most rewarding and, in my opinion, the pinnacle of the sport.”

It is difficult to describe how shocking a statement it is for England’s Test opener, who isn’t now in either of the white-ball squads and has only played three ODIs, to acknowledge that the format he isn’t playing is better suited for him.

On the one hand, it’s a remark that could be better left unsaid. On the other hand, it correlates with the proof we have personally witnessed in the BBL at the Adelaide Oval. Zak Crawley began as, and in some ways still is today, an England player selected for his future potential. While the Hurricanes chose him based on his abilities which he possesses today.

There is no doubt in saying that had Zak Crawley not been shortlisted in Test cricket three years ago, by now he would’ve been selected as the deserved one in the white-ball setup. After all, he has, in his own words, “probably done better in white-ball than red-ball” in his career so far. His T20 record matches up against those of his World Cup-winning peers, Harry Brook and Phil Salt. The difference is that while Salt, 26, has played 170 T20s and Brook, 23, has played 99, uncapped Zak Crawley, 24, has only been able to play 47 T20s due to his Test commitments.

Zak Crawley, who has an excellent track record in T20s, can take advantage of the opportunity he has recently gotten in the BBL to establish himself in the shortest format and get into the England T20 team. Zak Crawley has scored 1284 runs at a strike rate of 145.08 in 47 T20 games so far.

“Finding the time to devote to playing white-ball cricket while also trying to perfect the red is going to be impossible in order to compete with those guys in white-ball cricket.” “However, I don’t regret not playing much T20 cricket because my test game is where I want it to be,” Zak Crawley explains.

Because the emphasis of white-ball cricket is on free-scoring, risk-taking play, and it suits his style of play, Zak Crawley cites this as the reason why he has been more at ease adjusting to it than red-ball cricket. He then continues to say, “Well, that’s how we play Test cricket now as well (referring to the Baz ball technique introduced by Bredon McCullum), so they’ve kind of molded into one.”

Zak Crawley is finally able to develop the mentality that has allowed him to flourish in white-ball cricket, but it has so far held him back in the red-ball format, and as a result, England is not able to see the results they had long hoped for from him in the Test arena. After a disappointing 2021 summer where he averaged only 10.81 in tests, Zak Crawley referred to the summer of 2022 as his “worst ever.”

Relationship with Brendon McCullum: 

Regarding the support from Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, he says, “You always doubt yourself, but I never doubted their belief in me.” I was putting more pressure on myself, and during the final two tests of the summer, I began to feel quite desperate. So, I decided to just let it go.

A spectacular 69 not out off 57 balls against South Africa and 122 off 111 balls against Pakistan marked the end of his 2022 summer.

In Zak Crawley’s opinion, there has never been a time when he hasn’t relished representing England on the field. Despite the runs being at an all-time low and press muttering remarks at an all-time high, he feels that this is just so cool.

With Zak Crawley speaking freely from the coach’s playbook of putting entertainment first, McCullum and Crawley are inseparable.

In his opinion, cricket has little purpose other than to provide spectators with entertainment.

The irony of the current England Test team is that McCullum has developed a cult of players who would create an atmosphere that prioritizes independence, pleasure, and freedom.

Their relationship continues on an established theme. People who have played the game have commented on Crawley’s batting ability after looking at him and are of the opinion that he is a great batsman. He can drive through the covers on the up and pull a quick 90 mph delivery in front of square. A player who can perform feats that the best in the world cannot while failing to master the fundamentals is beautiful to watch and admire.

Zak Crawley’s expectation from his fans: 

According to Crawley, “I think people can tell that I have potential, and you can work with talent.” I’ve had the good fortune to have some experienced player’s support, which is obviously really awesome.”

To become a top player, which is what I desire, I simply need to make it work consistently. And I’ve demonstrated that.

These are the signs that make Zak Crawley such an intriguing character.

Crawley claims that a year ago, he wouldn’t have given a damn about how he looked while batting, but now, with a blossoming run of form and a new mindset, the idea that he could be remembered as an entertainer is “massive.”

Being recognized as a classy and stylish player, he wants to be remembered as someone where people switch on their TV just to enjoy his batting. “I was inspired by Ricky Ponting and Kevin Pietersen, two blokes who absolutely whacked it around the park. “You don’t really hear many guys talk about the blockers as their heroes,” Crawley claims.

During the Ashes last time around in Australia, Crawley impressed a lot of former cricketers, including Ricky Ponting. It was a fanboy moment for him when Ricky lauded him for his performance after the Sydney Test.

Crawley announces the World Cup as his goal for this year. There’s a lot of water to pass under the bridge before then. But he knows that stints like this one with the Hobart Hurricanes will only provide opportunities to advance his case.