CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 07: Zak Crawley and teammates of England celebrate taking thew wicket of Anrich Nortje of South Africa during day 5 of the 2nd Test match between South Africa and England at Newlands Cricket Stadium on January 07, 2020 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)
Test cricket is the ultimate buzz – England opener Crawley
England opener Zak Crawley is relishing the prospect of facing South Africa strike bowler Kagiso Rabada in Test cricket which he says is the ultimate buzz.
CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 07: Zak Crawley and teammates of England celebrate taking thew wicket of Anrich Nortje of South Africa during day 5 of the 2nd Test match between South Africa and England at Newlands Cricket Stadium on January 07, 2020 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo by Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images)
England opener Zak Crawley can’t wait for his next taste of Test cricket after enjoying England’s victory over the Proteas at Newlands.
Crawley has struggled against the Proteas pace attack wearing a few short balls from Kagiso Rabada and making just 30 runs in his first three innings.
Test cricket gives Crawley a buzz
“It’s the best feeling I’ve had on a cricket field, I reckon,” he said.
“The crowd singing all five days. It was something I’ll never forget. Brilliant. You just want more and more of it. I can see why so many people work hard at this level.
“Once you get that buzz you want it every day of the week. I can’t wait for the next Test. Hopefully it’s the same again.”
Despite battling to come to terms with the pace and venom of Rabada, Crawley says he thoroughly enjoyed the experience and is keen to face him again at St George’s Park.
“I loved it. It’s always great shaping up against one of the best bowlers in the world and seeing how you go,” Crawley said.
“I thought I played him OK until an average shot to a pretty average ball actually. It was a half-volley. I’m looking forward to playing him again at Port Elizabeth hopefully and taking him down.”
Crawley and Rabada have crossed paths before but the England opener doesn’t think the Proteas quick remembers him from his 2016 spell at Kent.
“I’m not sure he remembered me,” the 21-year-old said after training. “I never played with him at Kent but I was there. I was 12th man and I ran with the squad when he was there.”
Crawley’s highlight of the second Test did not come with the bat but rather in the field. He grasped a magnificent slip catch at the second attempt to dismiss Anrich Nortje, the wicket was the ninth to fall in the Proteas run chase.
“It lasted a lifetime. It seemed to hover in the air,” he said of the fraction of a second between his first and second touch.
“It was just a matter of sticking my hand out and luckily I managed to make it go up in the air and managed to get my other hand in it. I thought they were going to nick it off me but I’m glad they didn’t!”
England and South Africa head to Port Elizabeth with the series all square at 1-1 after two Tests of the four-match series.
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