The world has been a witness to three Zak Crawley centuries thus far. Back in August 2020, Crawley racked up his maiden hundred in Tests against Pakistan at the Rose Bowl in Southampton. It was also the knock when one of Zak Crawley centuries was converted into a double hundred.
Crawley scored 267 runs off 393 balls with the help of 34 fours and one six. After opting to bat first, England found themselves in all sorts of strife. They were reduced to 127 for the loss of four wickets in 39 overs. From there on, Crawley took charge and bailed his team out of jail.
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Crawley was pretty fluent as he got to his fifty off 80 balls. Thereafter, he brought up his maiden Test hundred off 171 balls with the help of 11 fours. At Stumps on Day 1, Crawley well and truly made an impact as he stayed not out on 171. He also built at unbeaten partnership of 205 runs with Jos Buttler.
Crawley carried on the good work on Day 2 as well. His partnership with Buttler extended to 359 before Asad Shafiq dismissed him. Once Crawley got to his double hundred off 331 balls, he stepped on the gas and kept hitting the Pakistan bowlers all around the park.
Crawley made sure that England posted a mammoth score of 583 for the loss of eight wickets (declared) in their first innings. Crawley went on to win the Player of the Match award for his incredible knock under extreme pressure.
The second of Zak Crawley centuries came back in March 2022 against the West Indies in North Sound. Crawley failed to perform in the first innings as he scored eight runs off 11 balls before Jayden Seales accounted for his wicket.
Crawley had a massive task at hand as England conceded a lead of 64 runs to the West Indies after the end of both team’s first innings. Crawley scored 121 runs off 216 balls with the help of 16 fours. The second of Zak Crawley centuries came after England lost their first wicket with their score at 24 for the loss of one wicket in 10.1 overs.
Crawley and then skipper Joe Root put on 201 runs for the second wicket. Crawley eventually got out after Jason Holder rattled his woodwork with an absolute peach. Although he got out, Crawley made sure that England were out of danger in the match at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium.
The third and last of Zak Crawley centuries back in December 2022 against Babar Azam’s Pakistan at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. It was the opening game of the three-match series and Crawley could not have expected for a better start.
Crawley opened the batting with Ben Duckett and the two batters made hay on a beautiful batting pitch. The right-handed batter scored 122 runs off 111 balls with 21 balls and played at an incredible strike-rate of 109.90.
Crawley was attacking right for the word go as he got to his fifty off 38 balls. He did not stop there and kept dictating terms. Crawley and Duckett tormented the Pakistan bowling attack by putting on a partnership of 233 runs for the opening wicket off 35.4 overs.
Crawley eventually got out to Haris Rauf, who cleaned up the batter by getting some reverse swing. He made sure that England put up a huge score of 657 in the first innings. Crawley was also impressive in the second innings as he scored 50 runs off 48 balls with the help of seven fours. The visiting team went on to win the Player of the Match award.
Here is a list of all Zak Crawley centuries in Tests
| Date | Opponent | Venue | Score |
| 21 August 2020 | Pakistan | Southampton | 267 |
| 08 March 2022 | West Indies | North Sound | 121 |
| 01 December 2022 | Pakistan | Rawalpindi | 122 |
Missed chances of Zak Crawley centuries
Back in January 22, 2022, Crawley scored 77 runs off 100 balls with 13 fours against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The batter faltered in the first innings of the Test when Scott Boland accounted for his crucial scalp. However, he batted to the best of his ability in the second innings.
Crawley played at a strike-rate of 77 and hit 13 fours in his knock. One of Zak Crawley centuries could have been witnessed that day, but that was not the case. Cameron Green trapped him plumb in front to cut short his stay in the middle. Green bowled a peach of a yorker, hitting Crawley on the boot. Crawley used the DRS, but to no avail.
Crawley was England’s top-scorer in the second innings. He also made sure that his team avoided a defeat at the SCG. Stuart Broad and James Anderson showed nerves of steel in the final session to deny Australia victory in the Sydney Test.
Zak Crawley can seriously play … Not many positives from this Tour but he is certainly one who needs to be given a long run in this Test team … #Ashes
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 8, 2022
Another of Zak Crawley centuries missed opportunity was in July 2020 against the West Indies in Southampton. He flattered to deceive in the first innings after Holder dismissed him LBW. Crawley got out after scoring 10 runs off 26 balls with two fours.
But Crawley looked at his very best in the second innings when he scored 76 runs off 127 balls with eight fours while batting at No.4. He eventually got out against the run of play after giving Alzarri Joseph a simple caught and bowled. England went on to lose the match by four wickets as Crawley’s efforts in the second innings went in vain.
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Crawley is currently taking part in the Ashes 2023 against Australia. In the first innings of the Edgbaston Test that England lost by two wickets, Crawley started his knock by hitting Pat Cummins for a four through the covers.
Crawley showed a lot of intent as he scored 61 runs off 73 balls with seven fours before Scott Boland dismissed him. If he keeps showing the same intent in batting, there would be plenty of Zak Crawley centuries in the future. Crawley is currently getting ready to take part in the Lord’s Test, which starts on June 28.
