Zak Crawley Celebrates Joe Root's Historic Century in Australia
Crawley Praises Root's Achievement
Brisbane, Australia - December 4: After Joe Root achieved his first Test century on Australian soil, his teammate Zak Crawley expressed his joy, labeling Root a "champion bloke" and the finest player he has ever played alongside.
Root, who had gone through 15 Tests and 29 innings without a century in Australia, finally broke that streak, marking a significant milestone in his Test career. As the second-highest run-scorer in history, trailing only Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar's 15,921 runs, Root's century adds a crucial chapter to his legacy. This century, his 40th in Test cricket, signifies his triumph over what he termed his "final frontier" as a batsman.
Crawley shared his excitement with TNT Sports, stating, "I am chuffed for him. He hasn’t mentioned it to us; that’s just external chatter. He remains focused on scoring what’s needed each day, and today he proved that with a hundred."
He continued, "He is the best player I have ever played with, or even against. I am genuinely thrilled for him."
In his Australian Test career, Root has amassed 1,035 runs at an average of 38.33, including one century and nine fifties across 16 Tests and 30 innings. Overall, he has scored 13,686 runs at an average of 51.45, with 40 centuries and 66 fifties, boasting a top score of 262 after 160 Tests and 291 innings.
Crawley, who faced a tough outing in the Perth Test, where he was dismissed for a pair by Mitchell Starc, felt relieved to contribute to England's first innings with a solid knock of around 70 runs.
Reflecting on his performance, Crawley said, "I felt good, much better than in Perth. I aimed to keep it simple, focusing on scoring straight on the leg side, and occasionally on the off side if the ball was full. I was pleased with my innings."
During his innings, Crawley hit 11 fours and maintained a strike rate of 81.72 from his 93-ball 76, while also being cautious with deliveries outside off-stump. He had worked hard on this aspect in the nets after a disappointing loss in Perth, but he regretted not capitalizing on a flatter pitch that offered a chance for a bigger score against the 'pink-ball wizards.'
"I felt calm and managed to settle my nerves. I had a clear plan and executed it well, although I had a few loose shots. I was fortunate to get away with them and played nicely down the ground. By focusing on the leg side, I left the ball better outside off with the extra bounce today," he explained.
"The pitch looked green initially, leading us to believe it would be challenging again. However, after it was shaved this morning, it appeared to be a great batting surface, especially with the overhead conditions. I was disappointed to get out when I did, as the pitch was becoming more favorable," he added.
When England was nine down for 264, Crawley noted there was "no discussion of declaring" to force the Australians to bat under the lights, even as Root and Jofra Archer were building a partnership.
"We were focused on going hard, and if we got out, it would be a win-win situation. They played aggressively, and it paid off with a valuable 50-run partnership between Root and Archer," he concluded.
In the match, England won the toss and chose to bat first. After Mitchell Starc's impressive bowling reduced England to 5/2, Root and Crawley formed a 117-run partnership, with Crawley scoring 76 off 93 balls. Another significant partnership followed with Harry Brook, who contributed 31 runs. Despite Australia making inroads, thanks to a run-out of England's captain Ben Stokes, England managed to finish day one at 325/9 after 74 overs, with Starc achieving his sixth five-wicket haul in pink-ball Tests.