24 h. ago Zak Crawley feels like ‘part of the team again’ after Trent Bridge run fest

The out-of-form opener struck 124 runs as the hosts powered to 498-3 on day one

Politics

35 h. ago ‘I’m the right man’: Zak Crawley ignores pressure with century against Zimbabwe

‘I’ve been made a better player by people around me’Crawley’s place thought to be under threat from BethellIf Zak Crawley showed little sign of the pressure he was under as he became one of three English centurions on the opening day against Zimbabwe, it is possibly because he did not know he was under any.The opener’s place in the team was presumed to be at risk after a poor run of form was followed by heavy hints that Jacob Bethell would be parachuted straight into the team on his return from the IPL, but after scoring 124 – England’s third-highest innings of the day after Ben Duckett’s 140 and Ollie Pope’s unbeaten 169 – the 27-year-old insisted he had heard no such rumours and had felt nothing from his coaches and colleagues except support. Continue reading...

Events

35 h. ago Zak Crawley feels like ‘part of the team again’ after Trent Bridge century

Crawley hit 124 as the hosts powered to 498 for three on day one.

Politics

37 h. ago Ollie Pope smashes 169 off Zimbabwe to show England selectors his class

Only Test day 1: England 498-3 v ZimbabweDuckett and Crawley also hit centuries in one-off TestThere were shades of The Thick of It after Ben Stokes gave his press conference a day out from this one-off Test against Zimbabwe. When the minister – or in this instance the England captain – said Jacob Bethell would be straight back in for the series against India, this apparently referred to the squad and not necessarily the XI.That Stokes sought to make this clarification through the back channels perhaps said more about the task at hand than England’s true thoughts on the subject. No captain would ever wish to send a player out believing whatever they achieved would be irrelevant, not least a vice-captain and team-first character such as Ollie Pope. Continue reading...

Culture

40 h. ago Ben Duckett hundred powers England into dominant position against Zimbabwe

Duckett made 140 as England reached two on 295 for one.

Politics

42 h. ago Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett get England off to solid start against Zimbabwe

The hosts reached 130 without loss at lunch on day one at Trent Bridge.

Politics

3 w. ago England stars stutter with the bat in County Championship action

Joe Root was dismissed for one, Yorkshire and England team-mate Harry Brook hit 33 and Zak Crawley made just six for Kent.

Politics

3 w. ago England selectors back Zak Crawley ‘to the hilt’ despite run of low scores

Pressure is building around the 27-year-old, who averaged just 8.66 in a torrid tour of New Zealand before Christmas.

Politics

3 w. ago England call up uncapped duo for Zimbabwe Test as Zak Crawley and Shoaib Bashir retained

Essex seamer Sam Cook earns his first call-up and could make his debut at Trent Bridge

Politics

3 w. ago Zak Crawley and Shoaib Bashir set to keep England spots for Zimbabwe Test

Ben Stokes is likely to return after injury.

Politics

3 w. ago Stick or twist? England’s selectors weigh up options for Zimbabwe Test

If Zak Crawley’s form is a worry the middle-order is not, but Ben Stokes’s role as an all-rounder remains unknownIt may be viewed as an amuse-bouche before the main course of India in June, but England’s one-off Test against Zimbabwe is fast approaching. Selection is imminent – for the four-day match Trent Bridge that gets under way on 22 May and a training camp in Loughborough that precedes it – and after four rounds of the County Championship, the contenders are beginning to take shape. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Six batsmen who could open for England's Test side amid Zak Crawley's poor form: The 6ft 7in youngster, County Championship top scorer and captain aiming for third call

RICHARD GIBSON: Zak Crawley's early season form - first-innings scores of 1, 0 and 1 - has reignited debate about whether the Kent batsman merits a place in England's Test team.

Sport