England’s Zak Crawley enjoying fighting fire with fire in Test match cauldron

Rory Burns’ injury has handed the Kent opener an opportunity he is determined to take

Confidence has never really been a problem for Zak Crawley. So when Rory Burns went down on the morning before the second Test, he’d already mentally prepared for the extra intensity of his training that was to follow. He got the nod to pad up and was the first to use the net set-up on a practice pitch in the middle of Newlands.

Three days later, he was face-to-face with Kagiso Rabada – a two Test newbie up against a 42-Test quick with 90mph ability and a hell of a mouth on him. The pair got down to it.

Crawley struck first, through square leg and then down the ground as England’s first innings lead of 46 moved to 54 with ease. The majority of Rabada’s next over, to the surprise of no one, was short and aimed at this head. A top-edge into the grille followed, then one into the shoulder. Words were had, none of them complimentary.

A simple tuck of the legs gave Crawley four more. Rabada, though, had the last laugh, nicking the right-hander off for 25 and launching himself towards the batsman and letting out a guttural scream in his ear. Now the 22-year old is keen for revenge.

“I loved it,” he beamed. “It’s always great shaping up against one of the best bowlers in the world and seeing how you go. I thought I played him OK until an average shot to a pretty average ball actually. It was a half-volley. I’m looking forward to playing him again at Port Elizabeth hopefully and taking him down.”

Not many newcomers to Test cricket would call out a genuine quick with 195 wickets to his name. The pair were around each other when Rabada was Kent’s overseas player in 2016, though Crawley, who only made his first-class debut in 2017, was only a very bit-part player. “I’m not sure he remembered me,” he joked.

There will certainly be more of that come the third Test, but speaking to those who know Crawley, he won’t feel any greater weight at having challenged a player of Rabada’s quality. His composure in tense situations has been a noted quality for many years and it shone through when he took a remarkable catch in the throes of Tuesday’s tense finish.

As Ben Stokes was steaming in, the slip cordon was brought forward and reinforced with kids. With Crawley at third slip, between Dom Sibley (24) and Dom Bess (22), an edge thundered off Anrich Nortje’s edge and headed in their direction. Crawley stuck up his right hand as a reflex, taken off his feet and sent to the floor by the speed of the ball which was headed down with him. As Sibley and Bess panicked, Crawley kept his cool while sat on the turf, and reached out his left to complete the ninth dismissal of the innings.

“It lasted a lifetime,” said Crawley on the ball’s path back to him. “Stokes was bowling so fast earlier and we were so close to the wicket that it was just a matter of sticking my hand out and luckily I managed to make it go up in the air and managed to get my other hand in it. It was a great moment when I saw it come down.” His other worry was Sibley and Bess.

“I thought they were going to nick it off me. I’m glad they didn’t! It did seem to last a long while, it seemed to hover in the air. Thankfully we got the final wicket and it wasn’t in vain.”

Indeed, the scenes of that final wicket – a third for Stokes and another catch for a 22-year old (Ollie Pope at gully) – were one of bedlam. The majority of fans in the stands going as crazy as the players in the middle over an 189-run victory earned late on day five – there were just 8.2 overs remaining – that means a four-match series sits 1-1 with two to play. Comfortably, in Crawley’s eyes, it’s “the best feeling I’ve ever had on a cricket field”.

Test cricket has always been the end goal for him. It is why he has worked hard not just on his batting but also why he is the fittest at his county, in terms of distance running, and certainly on the podium with England despite only coming into the squad for the New Zealand series in October. A strong worth ethic, stubbornness and hill sprints has brought him to this level, and why he felt perfectly comfortable with the five days of graft in Cape Town.

It was against the Blackcaps where he earned his maiden cap coming in at an unfamiliar position of No 6 and scoring just one. And though only scoring four and 25, the signs were there of a batsman who stands tall, good on the drive, who backs himself to take on the short ball and is growing in confidence with each appearance.

Zak Crawley and teammates of England celebrate (Getty Images)

“I knew the night before Rory would be out for a number of weeks. So it was the usual nerves early on your Test cricket. But actually I was a lot better than my debut in Hamilton so hopefully it’ll be easier next time as well.”

Confirmation that Burns will miss the next four months presents Crawley potentially as many as four opportunities across the final two Tests to head into Sri Lanka in March as the man in possession of an opener spot after Sibley all-but sealed his with 133 not out in the second Test. Replicating such a knock is on his agenda, though future series are not just yet. What is, though, is chasing the euphoria that Test cricket provides.

“You just want more and more of it. I can see why so many people work hard at this level. Once you get that buzz you want it every day of the week. I can’t wait for the next Test.”