West Indies – England: Zak Crawley scored his first hundred in over 2 years as the England opener helped the visitors end Day 4 in Antigua in a safe position.
WI v ENG, Test 1: Zak Crawley shakes off self-doubt after 100 on Day 4 (AP Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Zak Crawley failed to score on Day 4 of Test 1 against West Indies 117
- It was Crawley’s first hundred in Tests since 2020
- England reached Stumps on Day 4 with 217/1 and led the West Indies with 153 runs
Zak Crawley said on Saturday a hundred means a lot to him on Day 4 of the 1st Test between West Indies and England in Antigua. The England opener admitted he was wracked with self-doubt as his skinny section went to his head ahead of his tour of the West Indies.
Zak Crawley showed signs he was the best batsman England were looking for when he hit a double hundred and batted 267 against Pakistan in 2020, but he’s struggled since. He had only scored 2 fifties since his double hundred but the 24-year-old stepped up to hit 117 not outs which helped England secure a secure position in the first of their ongoing 3-match series.
He barely got a chance to keep an eye on it before being sent home, failing to reach double digits in 11 of his 16 subsequent appearances at the crease.
“It means a lot,” said the 24-year-old Crawley after ending the day unbeaten on 117 as England held a nine-wicket-handled second innings to a 153-run overall lead.
“It’s been a while since my first ton and last year there were times when I didn’t think I was going to get (another) so I’m very happy with the performance and happy with the position we’re in us.”
‘QUIET ROOT’
Crawley shared a 193 unbeaten partnership with captain Joe Root, 84, whose calm presence certainly didn’t hurt.
Root advised Crawley to play each ball on its merits rather than trying to force the problem.
“He told me to stay focused and we just had to weather these storms (of good bowling) and come back and score more freely sometimes,” Crawley said.
“He’s such a calm head and so experienced that I learned a lot from him and he played beautifully himself.”
