Zak Crawley

Zak Crawley's figures looked unexceptional when he was called-up for England's Test tour of New Zealand but, such was his promise and so obvious England's need for resilience at the top of the order, his selection at the age of 21 was no surprise.

Crawley had averaged just 34.16 in the 2019 County Championship season and, in career terms, had only three first-class centuries and a first-class average of 31.27. But two of those centuries had come against strong fast bowling attacks - a Nottinghamshire side containing James Pattinson and Jake Ball and a Warwickshire attack containing Ryan Sidebottom and Henry Brookes - and he had won an array of high-profile admirers. Particularly adept against fast bowling, he pulls and cuts well and developed is white-ball game to the point where he gained a place with London Spirit in the first edition of The Hundred.

He scored just one on his Test debut in New Zealand; a last-minute replacement in Hamilton for the injured Jos Buttler. But, having impressed with his character and his excellent fitness, he retained his place for the South Africa tour and won another opportunity when Rory Burns suffered a last-minute injury ahead of the Cape Town Test. While the eye-catching scores didn't materialise, he improved his Test-best score for five innings in succession and registered a maiden half-century in Jo'burg. In that Test, he also put together - with Dom Sibley - England's first century opening stand since December 2016 and the first pair of 50+ opening stands in a game since 2012. An extended run in the side looked certain, especially on the back of fifties against West Indies and Pakistan, precursors to his standout 267 against the latter at the Ageas Bowl in August 2020.

But a barren stretch followed to bring his place under increasing scrutiny with just a brace of fifties in 21 innings, 10 single-figure scores and two ducks among them. That was until his century in the drawn first Test against West Indies in March 2022, which seemed to set him up for the English summer, only for another unspectacular spell to ensue ahead of his 69 not out off just 57 balls in the third and final Test against South Africa in September. A rapid century in Pakistan in December was in keeping with England's assertive approach under head coach Brendon McCullum and was followed by a BBL stint with Hobart Hurricanes, Crawley's first foray into T20 leagues abroad.

Crawley became a regular in the Kent side in 2018, playing throughout their promotion-winning season as well as figuring in occasional limited-overs games. After twice being dismissed in the nineties he scored his maiden first-class century in the final home match of the season, making 168 against Glamorgan at Canterbury.

A Kent Cricket Academy graduate, Crawley signed his first professional contract with the county at 17 in October 2015. He made his List A debut against Essex in the Royal London One-Day Cup in May 2017 before impressing with 62 against the touring West Indies later that season.
ESPNcricinfo staff