ENG vs AUS: "If He Is Able To Be Consistent With That, It Will Make Him A Really Special Player" - Mark Taylor On Zak Crawley

Former Australian captain Mark Taylor praised young opener Zak Crawley for his brilliant century in England’s first innings of the fourth Test in the Ashes 2023 series. Mark Taylor stated that the team backed Zak Crawley despite his ordinary performances in the longer format of the game.

Zak Crawley smashed his first Ashes century at Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester on Thursday, July 20. The right-handed batter scored 189 runs off 182 deliveries, with the help of 21 fours and three sixes. He helped the team gain a crucial lead in the must-win encounter to level the series.

Also read: AUS vs ENG: “Shame That He Didn’t Make 200” – Twitter Hails Zak Crawley For Brutal 189-Run Knock

Played 38 Tests And Averaging 29 – Mark Taylor

Mark Taylor said that Zak Crawley can become a special player for England in red-ball cricket if he can add consistency to his batting.

“When you see an innings like that, you tend to understand why England have backed him over a period of time. For a man that’s played 38 Tests and averaging 29, it is when he produces an innings like that, you stand back and say, ‘Wow.’ If he is able to be consistent with that, it will make him a really special player,” Taylor told Sky Sports.

Also read: ENG vs AUS: “He’s Been On His Knees A Lot More Than On His Feet” – Dinesh Karthik Highlights A Technical Flaw In Jonny Bairstow’s Keeping

Zak Crawley Has Produced Here Is Very Special – Ricky Ponting

Former Australian skipper Ricky Ponting credited England’s captain Ben Stokes for backing talented players like Zak Crawley. Ponting described Crawley’s performance as “outstanding”.

“Outstanding. I think a lot of people around English cricket have known what he is capable of. Yes, it has probably been a bit lean here and there, but Stokes wants to pick people with special things ahead of them and what Crawley has produced here is very special,” Ponting told Sky Sports.

Also read: ENG vs AUS: “The More Overs You Put Into Them, They Can Lose Effectiveness” – Pat Cummins On James Anderson And Stuart Broad

Setting Different Fields Almost Every Second Ball – Dinesh Karthik

Dinesh Karthik praised Zak Crawley for his proactive and counter-attacking approach, stating that he kept Australian fielders on their toes.

“Got inside the minds. (Australia) have been chasing him. Chasing the ball, chasing in the field. Setting different fields almost every second ball,” Karthik told Sky Sports.

Joe Root fell short of a well-deserved century, getting dismissed for 84 runs by Josh Hazlewood. England were at 384/4 after 72 overs at the end of the second day’s play. Ben Stokes (24) and Harry Brook (14) remained unbeaten at the crease.