Zak Crawley: I’m relishing the chance
Saturday 5th August 2017
Fresh-faced Zak Crawley is set to become the 18th Kent Cricket Academy graduate to play first class cricket.
The 19-year-old will be in the Kent squad to play the West Indies in a three-day match on Sunday (6 August), the centrepiece of the 166th Canterbury Cricket Week.
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Zak has been a consistent performer for the second team this season and scored his second red ball century in the first innings of the recent four day friendly match against Leicestershire at The County Ground, Beckenham.
He hit 16 boundaries in his innings of 103 and figured in a 203 second-wicket partnership with Joe Weatherley, who was 135 not out in Kent’s declared total of 293 for 5.
Crawley made his white-ball debut this season in the Royal London One-Day Cup against Essex at Canterbury, and now wants to taste more of first team cricket.
The 6ft 6in right-hander said: “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to play against the West Indies and trying to break into the Championship side too.
“I enjoyed the experience in the One-Day Cup and would relish a chance in the longer format.”
Zak said he was in good form at the moment and after a few half-centuries in the second XI and club cricket, he said it was satisfying to go on and make a century.
The Sevenoaks Vine batsman said: “I accept it will be very difficult to break into the first team with the quality of the players we have in the top order but I will keep plugging away and if I get my chance I know I will have to grab it.”
Kent coaches Matt Walker, Min Patel and Mark Ealham have all helped Zak progress his career and he has also had advice on his batting from former Kent captain Rob Key.
“I am lucky that Rob has always taken an interest in my batting since I joined the club.
“He gives me tips and advice from time to time which I am very grateful for. He was the best opening batsman in county cricket for many years so I can only learn a lot from what advice he passes on to me.”
Interview: Peter Burrowes