'He’s played well against some of the best bowlers' - Rob Key’s motivational message to dropped England star Zak Crawley

Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, Rob Key, has advised opening batter Zak Crawley to take a step back and grind out some runs in domestic cricket to return to form. This comes after the Kent batter was dropped from the Three Lions’ Test setup for the first time under the ‘Bazball’ regime ahead of their three-match series against New Zealand next month. 

Key went on to praise Crawley for his impact up the order against some of the best bowlers in the world. The right-handed batter famously

hit the first ball of the 2023 Ashes for a four off the bowling of Pat Cummins as he ended the series as England’s leading run-scorer. The Managing Director, however, wants Crawley to develop his game further by representing Kent in the Rothesay County Championship’s Division Two.

“I think he knew it was coming. I’d never like to think it’s the end of the road for anyone. He’s played well against some of the best bowlers in the world. He’s played four years now under intense scrutiny, so he can now go back out of the spotlight and he can try and develop his game … Hopefully it’ll be the making of him,” Rob Key was quoted as saying via AOL.

The writing was on the wall for Crawley’s international career the moment England lost the Ashes series in Australia 4-1. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) were expected to make widespread changes to their side following the disappointment Down Under, with the 28-year-old always expected to receive the chop. 

Crawley has gone on to play 64 Test matches for England, scoring 3,586 runs at an average of just 31.18. The ECB have replaced the Kent star with Durham’s Emilio Gay, who is set to open for the Three Lions alongside Ben Duckett against New Zealand. 

Crawley has also not had the best of times in the County Championship this season. The top-order batter has hit 195 runs from five matches, averaging just under 20, with his highest score being 44. In contrast, Gay has 552 runs to his name from as many games at an average of 92, with three centuries to his name. 

It is worth mentioning that Crawley is not the only ‘Bazball’ regular to lose his place ahead of the home summer. Former vice-captain Ollie Pope has also been dropped from the side, with Warwickshire’s Jacob Bethell cementing his place as their number three following his century in Sydney in the final Ashes Test match against Australia.