Zak Crawley, the talented English cricketer, has always been a player of immense potential. Since his initial selection by Ed Smith during his tenure as England national selector, Crawley has showcased his abilities with both brilliance and inconsistency, captivating and frustrating spectators in equal measure.
During the first match of the Test series in Visakhapatnam, Crawley's innings perfectly encapsulated his enigmatic style, leaving fans divided in their opinions. His impressive knock of 76 runs at a brisk pace demonstrated his ability to dominate the opposition, as he confidently faced Ravichandran Ashwin and took on Jasprit Bumrah.
Crawley's innings had its fair share of fortune, as he was dropped on 17 by Shubman Gill at short midwicket. Undeterred, he launched a counter-attack against Bumrah, beautifully timing four consecutive boundaries.
As he continued his onslaught, Crawley reached his half-century with a powerful six off Kuldeep Yadav, displaying his willingness to take risks and exploit the smaller boundaries of the ACA-VDCA stadium. He added a couple more elegant dismissals of Ashwin, including a well-executed cover drive wide of mid-off and a glorious back-foot punch through point.
However, his innings came to an abrupt end when he attempted to repeat a shot against Axar Patel, only to miscue and be caught brilliantly by Shreyas Iyer sprinting backwards from point. From that point onwards, England's batting line-up crumbled under the reverse swing of Bumrah, resulting in a collapse from 114 for one to 159 for five.
When asked about his dismissal, Crawley remained resolute in his approach, stating that he would always back his aggressive instincts. He emphasized the importance of maintaining his aggressive game, as it has contributed to his improved consistency and success.
Crawley's performance during the 2021 Indian tour was not as fruitful as the fans had hoped. After missing the first two Tests due to a wrist injury sustained from slipping on a marble floor in the dressing room, he returned for the third and fourth Tests in Ahmedabad but struggled to make significant contributions.
Reflecting on his experience in India, Crawley acknowledged the challenges of playing in such conditions, where even a score of ten felt like an accomplishment at times. However, his performance in the last year was one of a kind pleasure to watch after, even though his total figures are far from being perfect.
While Crawley's aggressive style contributed to the drama and unpredictability of the match, attributing blame for the England loss solely to him would be unfair. It would overlook the exceptional display of fast bowling by Jasprit Bumrah, whose intelligent and clinical execution included a remarkable yorker that left Ollie Pope in disarray.