Fearless Zak Crawley targeting Ashes century at SCG

ELIZABETH BOTCHERBY: The 23-year-old scored just 173 runs in 16 Test innings in 2021 but believes, with a little confidence, he can score an Ashes century and help England avoid an unwanted whitewash

Zak Crawley is targeting an Ashes century in the fourth Test at the SCG as he and England look to bounce back from a disappointing 2021.

The 23-year-old scored just 173 runs in 16 Test innings last year, averaging 10.81 and passing 30 on just one occasion – a half-century in the third Test against India in Ahmedabad.

England, meanwhile, finished 2021 with an innings and 14 run defeat against Australia to surrender the Ashes and head into the new year with a potential whitewash hanging over them.

The touring side’s struggles with the bat have been well-documented, with only Joe Root and Dawid Malan scoring more than 200 runs across the three Tests. They are also the only two players to score a half-century.

England’s openers have been particularly poor, with Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed and Crawley scoring a combined 133 runs – 120 fewer than Root has managed on his own.

^{Zak Crawley leaves the field after being dismissed in England's second innings [Quinn Rooney/Getty Images]}

However, Crawley, who was parachuted in to replace Burns for the Melbourne Test, believes he and his teammates can reverse their fortunes if they play with confidence instead of fearing Australia’s bowlers.

"Everyone has seen the talent that all our batters have shown over the last few years," he said. "[We've] all got talent to score big runs in Test [but] we’ve got to get into the right headspace to perform. That’s where we’ve gone slightly wrong.

"Just not fearing them [Australia’s bowlers]. I feel a few of us on our first Ashes tour, we’ve been a bit wary of them but there’s no need to be. They’re great bowlers, some of the best in the world, but when you get in as Rooty and Malan have shown, they’ve look very comfortable at times.

"I will certainly look to be a bit more confident and back myself because I know full well, I can score a hundred here this week and that’s what I’m looking to do."

Crawley appears to have come through both the Melbourne mauling and a disappointing 12 months with his confidence undented, labelling the Boxing Day Test "one of the best moments of my career."

"I haven’t played my best cricket [in 2021] but I do feel in a good place," he said. "Stats are misleading sometimes. I didn’t feel in great touch in the summer so all of a sudden, you’re averaging 10. I feel as good as I ever have though, so I don’t look into stats too much."

Reflecting on the third Test, he continued: "That was the toughest I’ve had for sure. I loved the challenge. I loved walking out to bat on Boxing Day, it was one of the best moments of my career.

"It didn’t go my way, but I look back on it with fond memories and think it was special. Fair play, they bowled well; hopefully, I can have a good week this week and play them well."

^{Joe Root and Dawid Malan are the only England batters to get the better of Australia's bowlers [Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images]}

And as for the much-discussed whitewash, Crawley insists spirits are high in the England camp.

"We were gutted at the MCG to lose like this, to lose the series after three games," he said. "But every Test is massive, doesn’t matter who you are playing against. We are all massively wanted two wins out of these next two games.

"It’s a great chance for the squad to start again, building up the side into a better place. There is a lot to play for, a lot of players playing for their place in the side, pride of playing for your country.

"If we come away with 3-2, we can hold our heads up that we didn’t let them walk all over us and that’s what we’re looking to do."

Our coverage of the Ashes is brought to you in association with Cricket 22

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