ZakCrawley

A born and bred top-order batter from Kent, it took Zak Crawley around two seasons in county cricket to convince selectors he was ready for the top level.

After a Test debut to forget in New Zealand in 2019, Crawley became a staple at the top of England’s order once cricket resumed following the Covid pandemic.

His 12th Test innings produced his maiden century, and he went large, crushing Pakistan in Southampton for an astonishing 267.

A string of low scores saw him lose his spot ahead of the 2021-22 Ashes series, but he was recalled as opener for the third Test with Rory Burns dropped.

Despite a modest Test record, Crawley became a favourite during the tenure of head coach Brendon McCullum, who championed his aggressive intent.

Crawley repaid the faith put in him with a strong 2023 Ashes series, which started with him pummelling the first ball of the series for four, including a mammoth 189 in Manchester and finished with him as England’s leading run-scorer (480 runs). 

Crawley represented Hobart Hurricanes and Perth Scorchers in back-to-back Big Bash campaigns between 2022 and 2024.