Zak Crawley unwilling to compromise in battle to conquer spin demons

NICK HOWSON: Dismissed four times in as many innings by Lasith Embuldeniya in Sri Lanka, the England top-order batsman will not make any significant changes to his technique

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Having enjoyed a seamless route through international cricket's various hurdles, Zak Crawley will not be allowing a first taste of adversity to disrupt what has taken him to this point.

The Kent batsman endured his first period of poor form in Sri Lanka, registering scores of 9, 8, 5 and 13 after being dismissed by left-arm spinner Lasith Embuldeniya in all four innings during his first Tests since the double hundred against Pakistan in Southampton.

Crawley missed the opportunity to bounce back from that run after a wrist injury ruled him out of the first two India Tests. Fit-again and in contention to fill a spot in the top three in Ahmedabad next week, the 23-year-old will not be ripping up his technique in search of a formula to conquer the spinning ball.

"It didn't go my way in Sri Lanka like I'd want it to but I thought I learned a lot," said the England youngster. "If I had another crack at it now I'd be a lot better off.

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"I'm not going to let a few dismissals change the way I play. There were a couple of good balls in there, I hit one rash shot so for me there is no problem. 

Crawley's trial by left-arm spin is likely to continue with Axar Patel having enjoyed a fine debut in the second Test in Chennai. Match figures of 7-100 were key to India claiming victory by 317 runs and squaring the series at 1-1.

Dom Sibley notably tailored his approach in Sri Lanka and has two half-centuries in his last five sub-continent innings. But his teammate will trust the method which has rarely failed him.

"I am going to continue to play the way I play," he added. "He is a top-quality bowler Axar Patel and I am going to give him the respect he deserves but it is not a problem in my eyes. I'm going to keep trying to improve the way I play.

^{Axar Patel claimed seven wickets on debut in Chennai}

"I've watched a few of the top players in our group and spoken to a few guys about playing spin. The top players keep it simple and that's what I want to do. I'm not going to overcomplicate anything and the way I play too much. 

"The challenges in Sri Lanka were with the new ball, one went straight on the other spun and caught the edge and I didn't think there was much I could have done about those. I miss-executed one shot but I won't be changing the way I play.

"It is very easy in this environment in Test cricket - there is a lot of scrutiny - to change quickly. But I've played a game that has got me here so far and a couple of Test matches in Sri Lanka aren't going to change that. 

"If it continues to be a problem then that is something to look at. There has been talk about the way Embuldeniya got wickets early in Sri Lanka for for me it is about sticking to what I know and my opinion and people's opinions that have been around me the whole time."