Since the time Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum took over as captain and coach respectively of England men’s Test team, there has been a lot of change we have seen. England started playing an aggressive brand of cricket too. Two years later, the vibe is very much the same as their aggressive style of play made headlines. Out of the 24 Tests under Stokes-McCullum, England have played out just a solitary draw, winning 15 and losing eight as well. And, opener Zak Crawley feels that his team’s impact has been beyond the stats of wins and losses as well.

“I certainly feel we get more comments from people outside the ground saying, ‘I watched you playing the other week, loved it’. That’s awesome to hear, it’s what you want.” said Crawley at the press conference at Trent Bridge. “You want people to enjoy watching you play and I certainly feel that was heightened after the Ashes last year. We are here to provide something for the English people to enjoy and hopefully we keep doing that.”

However, Crawley himself has gained a lot under England’s current Test set-up, having gone from an ordinary Test player to a mainstay opening batter as well. After a struggling start to his red-ball career, Crawley has evolved a lot in the last two years, averaging 43.5 since the start of 2023 at a strike rate close to 80 as well. The Ashes series was where Crawley came in the limelight, showcasing his strokeplay range and swagger against Australia’s potent bowling unit as well.

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“It sneaks up on you, it’s gone so quickly,” he said. “I’ve loved every minute of it. I feel like I have a responsibility to my team-mates to help them but I think that’s across the board, to be honest. I don’t feel like more than a leader than anyone else.”

Speaking of James Anderson, who has retired from action after the first Test, Crawley hoped that Anderson’s presence would not only keep England’s bowlers on their toes but also become challenging for the batters including himself as well.

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“He said he’s going to bowl in the nets. I just hope he’s going to bowl cross-seam. I’ve faced enough seam up balls from him,” added Crawley. “He’ll put the ball wherever he wants I suppose. A few fluffers and half-volleys from now on I think, Jimmy.”

“It’s certainly a changing of the guard but it’s really good to see some young talent coming in. Gus, Dillon, other guys like Pottsy (Matthew Potts). These guys are really talented bowlers and I find them hard to face. They’re all going to go well and get the chance like Gus did. We’re a very tight-knit group and we’re all encouraged to add to the environment, help the environment. Even Dillon coming in for his first game, you’re encouraged to help everyone around you,” Zak Crawley concluded.