- 3 years ago
Zak Crawley on his 189 as England take fight to Australia day 2 reaction to fourth test
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00:00 [ Pause ]
00:22 >> Camera's all good?
00:23 Go ahead.
00:28 >> Zach, congratulations on the innings.
00:31 With the context of this match and the sort
00:34 of full home Ashes crowd, how important was that one for you?
00:39 >> Oh, you know, every Ashes knock's important, but that was,
00:42 yeah, and I was very pleased with how it played and how it went
00:45 and the position we're in at the moment in the series.
00:48 You know, we're fighting back nicely, so we're in a good position
00:50 to push this game forward now, so hopefully we do that.
00:53 >> How much fun was it?
00:55 You know, it was, you don't get a knock like that every day.
00:58 >> No, it was a lot of fun.
00:59 You know, I rode my luck at times,
01:01 but played some nice shots along the way, and I enjoyed those.
01:04 So, that with Mo is always fun as well.
01:07 He's a funny guy, and Ruthie just takes so much pressure
01:10 off you when you're batting, so yeah, I enjoyed today.
01:13 >> You know, obviously, that Baz and Ben have been asked
01:17 about you a lot, about your place.
01:19 They've been rock solid in their support, never wavered.
01:22 Did, you know, has that been something
01:23 that you've been aware of, and does it feel nice
01:26 to give them a big payoff today?
01:28 >> Yeah, absolutely.
01:29 It's fair to say, under any other coach or captain,
01:33 I probably wouldn't be playing this series.
01:34 So, to be backed by them, it gives me a lot of confidence,
01:37 and they've always said to me,
01:39 just don't worry about being consistent.
01:40 Just try and go and win games for England,
01:43 and it'd be really nice if we win this game,
01:46 and hopefully I've contributed to that.
01:47 That was a long way to go.
01:48 >> Can I just ask, was the speed, which, you know,
01:52 189 at better than a running ball, was the speed
01:56 that you went about things, was that motivated
01:58 by the weather forecast, by the desire
02:00 to move this game on quick, or was it just a case
02:03 of you playing your natural game and, you know,
02:05 seeing the ball as you like to see it?
02:07 >> Yeah, I was just trying to be natural game.
02:09 You know, they're such good bowlers that I feel,
02:11 if I sit there for too long, they're going to get me.
02:14 So, I like to be positive against them, and, you know,
02:16 I've scored quicker in this series than I have against most,
02:18 and I think that's just the quality of their bowlers.
02:21 You know, I'm just, I don't want to sit there for too long.
02:22 And always, you know, like I say,
02:23 I think there's a good ball in there.
02:24 So, you know, like I say, I bow well at times
02:28 and score quickly, really quickly in certain patches
02:30 and try to absorb it and get a few singles in other times.
02:32 But, no, we haven't really focused too much on the weather.
02:35 We're just controlling what we can control.
02:37 And if that comes, then we'll worry
02:39 about that later in the game.
02:40 >> We'll go Chris, Vish, Mel, and Sonia.
02:43 >> Hi, Zach.
02:45 You guys have had some special moments the last 14 months
02:47 as a team, but today, as a group of players, do you feel
02:52 like that's possibly the best you've played
02:54 under Baz and Ben?
02:55 >> Fair enough.
02:57 I feel like, I felt in better touch at other times.
03:00 But there was, after my 100, that was as good as I felt.
03:03 But before my 100, actually, I felt in better nick
03:05 at other times, but I think that, you know, like I say,
03:07 I rode my luck a few times.
03:08 And like I say, in little periods,
03:11 I felt I'm really good nick today.
03:12 But it wasn't actually that easy to score at times,
03:15 which might sound really arrogant.
03:16 But it was, you know, there was the times
03:20 when I was struggling to score and felt like, you know,
03:22 I was going to chip one to cover or something.
03:24 But no, I was happy with how I played today.
03:28 It was positive.
03:29 And, you know, I took a punt against their bowlers,
03:32 but it came off.
03:33 >> And in terms of the team's approach, does today feel
03:37 like vindication for sticking to that positive style,
03:40 even though, you know, you've had highs and lows
03:42 as a team during this series?
03:44 >> Yeah, I think we've shown that it suits our players
03:47 to be positive and, you know,
03:50 at other times we absorb pressure.
03:51 But most of the time, we just try and put pressure back
03:54 on them and get them thinking about what they're doing,
03:56 rather than what we're doing.
03:57 And, yeah, I feel like today was, you know,
04:00 a really good day for that.
04:01 And even yesterday, like, Wosey bowled so well.
04:03 And we were putting pressure on them with the ball.
04:06 And I think it works both bat and ball.
04:08 And, you know, we've played really well so far this game
04:10 for the last two days.
04:11 And, you know, hopefully,
04:13 hopefully we continue that next couple of days.
04:15 >> Fish?
04:17 >> Hi, Zach.
04:17 You spoke in the past about wanting
04:20 to be an entertaining player, you know, someone who, you know,
04:23 gets people on the edge of their seats.
04:25 And you referenced KP as someone who you idolized.
04:28 That six off mid-mast, that kind of short-arm jab for six
04:32 over wide long-- well, wide long on, sorry, was very KP.
04:36 Did you feel like someone of that ilk?
04:40 Did you feel like you were kind of emulating there in terms
04:42 of control and how you were making them run around?
04:45 >> No, I've never felt as good as KP, to be honest.
04:48 No, I've never-- I mean, I've played some good shots today.
04:51 I was really happy with how I played.
04:53 But, no, I'm a long way behind KP.
04:55 And I don't think I'll ever feel like that good.
04:57 But we'll see one day maybe.
04:59 >> McCollum has spoken in the past
05:01 about how he sees a lot of himself in you.
05:04 Has that been a conversation that you've ever had with him
05:06 or he's had with you about, I suppose, his journey to--
05:09 where he ended up with an incredible body of work?
05:10 >> Yeah, absolutely.
05:12 We chat a lot.
05:13 And he's really good at that,
05:14 having those little conversations with you
05:15 about playing.
05:16 And I understand what he means.
05:17 I feel like in some ways we are similar.
05:19 You know, I'm at my best when I'm attacking,
05:23 trying to put pressure on them.
05:24 And so is he.
05:24 And he maybe wasn't the most consistent,
05:27 but he played some incredible knocks.
05:29 I think that's what he wants from me as well.
05:31 And, you know, as long as they want that from me,
05:34 I'm more than happy to take that pun at the top of the order.
05:37 >> And lastly for me, you mentioned
05:38 that partnership with Mo.
05:39 I think it was a couple of weeks ago,
05:42 maybe during the Lord's Test.
05:43 Stokes mentioned that you
05:46 and Mo had basically a two-day argument about something.
05:49 Could you tell us what that was?
05:50 >> Well, we have a lot of arguments.
05:53 I reckon if he's referencing it in the media,
05:57 he must have been talking about the north-south.
05:58 We were discussing who was better at T20 cricket.
06:01 And obviously there's not many Southerners in the team,
06:04 so I was fighting an uphill battle.
06:05 But then all the Southern teams won the quarterfinals.
06:08 So I just sat there smugly for a couple of days.
06:11 No, it's a light-hearted debate.
06:14 But Mo is a funny guy, though.
06:17 He makes me laugh.
06:17 >> Mel? Then we'll go Sonia.
06:20 >> I just actually wanted to ask about Mo,
06:23 because you said before, well, a couple of times now,
06:26 that he's a funny guy to bat with.
06:29 Was there anything out there that he said today
06:32 that was funny that you can share?
06:33 >> I mean, he's always, just the way he says things,
06:36 like he hits fours, you know.
06:38 He hit a cover drive one point.
06:39 He went and shot the day that.
06:40 But he's joking.
06:44 But it was shot the day, by the way.
06:45 It was an unbelievable shot off Cummins.
06:47 But he says things like that.
06:48 And it's all light-hearted.
06:50 But he's just trying to create a relaxed environment out there.
06:53 And he really does that.
06:55 And that helps me, actually.
06:56 So I enjoy batting with him.
06:57 >> And what I wanted to ask you is,
06:59 you often seem quite unflustered, even when,
07:03 as you say, you're riding your luck.
07:04 And I was just wondering when you,
07:06 when there are those edges, inside edges,
07:09 or ball goes aerial, play and a miss,
07:11 are you as unflustered as you look?
07:14 Is it easy for you to just, you know, brush away that shot?
07:17 Or is there a process you go through to sort of reset
07:20 and refocus for the next ball?
07:22 >> No, I'm a big believer in luck, to be honest.
07:24 And so I just, you know, if I get a bit of luck, I just go,
07:28 that's my bit of luck for the day.
07:30 You know, it doesn't, I don't feel like, oh, I've got,
07:33 you know, I've got away with one or other.
07:36 I just think, oh, you know, luck,
07:37 everyone gets a bit of luck.
07:38 And everyone gets a bit of bad luck.
07:39 And, you know, you just got to ride that wave.
07:42 And I certainly got my share of luck today.
07:45 And, you know, and it came off.
07:47 >> We'll take one each going forward.
07:50 So Sonia, Scott, Mike, George, Dan, and then we'll finish with Will.
07:53 >> Zak, over the last six months, you've had to sort
07:57 of defend your technique and spoken
07:59 about how you stay away from social media.
08:01 How nice is it then to look at this,
08:03 given what's happened before?
08:07 >> To be honest with you, that doesn't make a difference to me.
08:09 You know, I, the only thing that matters
08:13 to me is enjoying my cricket and playing well.
08:16 You know, what other people have to say about myself, you know,
08:19 it's none of my business really.
08:20 I don't really care.
08:22 And, you know, I just try and get better each day.
08:26 And, you know, I'll try and get better tomorrow as well.
08:30 And today doesn't change that.
08:31 >> Zak, you mentioned, you know,
08:36 sort of indication in Basville theory and putting pressure back
08:39 on the opposition and having them thinking
08:40 about what you're doing, not what they're doing.
08:42 Did you feel at times today
08:43 like Australia were perhaps a little bit rattled out there,
08:45 particularly in that second session
08:47 and they were well off their normal game?
08:48 >> It's hard to rattle them, to be honest.
08:51 I don't mean they were too rattled.
08:54 It was a good pitch to bat on
08:55 and we were obviously pushing ahead.
08:56 So certainly, I think they felt
08:59 like they were behind the game.
09:01 But they're one of the best teams
09:04 that keep sticking with it actually,
09:06 keep sticking with it.
09:07 And they tried everything all day and they got a couple
09:11 of, you know, big wickets at the end there.
09:13 So, you know, there wasn't a lot in it for them.
09:15 And Joe batted so well to put the pressure on them as well.
09:17 So, no, I thought they stuck to it pretty well.
09:19 >> Mike.
09:21 >> Zak, well, when you've gone through a run
09:24 of promising starts without going on to convert any of them,
09:27 do you ever doubt yourself and think,
09:29 I'll tell you what, I'll just block it now.
09:31 I'll just block for Britain rather than playing his shots.
09:34 Do you ever doubt yourself?
09:35 >> I mean, those thoughts always come into your head.
09:39 Yeah, absolutely.
09:39 I mean, when I got out ahead in the lead,
09:41 I got a couple of nice knocks there,
09:42 but didn't convert them.
09:43 And yeah, I was thinking, you know,
09:47 I was thinking too much about the score rather
09:48 than being immersed in the moment.
09:50 Like Baz always talks about that, about being present.
09:52 And I think I was a lot more present today.
09:55 And I think that helped me go on and get a big score rather
09:57 than worrying about getting a big score
09:59 before you're already there.
10:00 >> Finish off with Dan Bray to our left
10:03 and then Will Matpherson.
10:04 Go ahead, Dan.
10:04 >> G'day, Zach.
10:05 Just wanted to ask you about, you know, you talked
10:07 about the clarity of mindset and being comfortable
10:09 with being an inconsistent player and have a great day.
10:12 Can you take us back to, I suppose,
10:14 the time when you were trying to, I suppose,
10:16 be a bit more orthodox and a bit more kind of consistent
10:19 in your approach, I suppose, per the way, say, Joe would play?
10:22 Like that sort of the struggle, I guess, with that?
10:25 >> Yeah, I was just trying to sit on bowlers and, you know,
10:30 make them come to me and try and build in innings like that.
10:34 And, you know, I found that at this level you get
10:37 so many good balls, especially at the top of the order,
10:39 that, you know, I wasn't, I was getting a couple
10:42 of nice scores and then getting out.
10:43 And, you know, it wasn't really me.
10:45 I always felt like an itch to attack a bit more.
10:48 And, you know, there's, when you're playing
10:51 with such great players like Joe and Stokesy and, you know,
10:54 you try and emulate them a lot.
10:56 But there comes a point when you have
10:57 to back your own way as well.
10:59 And I think, yeah, just trying
11:02 to be a bit more positive is more like me.
11:05 >> Will and then Steph to finish.
11:07 >> Zach, could you talk us through the kind of game plan
11:10 from here?
11:10 Obviously, there is a bit of weather about, and you don't want
11:12 to get too deep into the forecast and worry about that.
11:15 But sort of what, how Ben might be looking at it
11:18 and whether a declaration might be in play or, yeah,
11:21 just talk us through your plan.
11:22 >> I'm actually not sure.
11:23 Anything can happen with Stokesy.
11:24 But I feel like while the ball was, two very good players
11:30 at the crease, and Johnny still to come and good talent.
11:32 Talent batters, I think, I don't know,
11:35 but I think the game plan would probably be to bat once
11:37 and try and bat well tomorrow.
11:38 Maybe if we lose a couple of wickets early,
11:41 then that might change.
11:42 But I would have thought it would be to try
11:44 and get a big lead and bowl them out and not have to bat again.
11:48 But that would be the absolute ideal if that happened.
11:50 And we're fully expecting, I think it's a good wicket
11:52 to bat on now.
11:53 And it might get worse, but, you know,
11:56 I'm expecting them to bat well for the third innings.
11:57 >> Steph.
11:59 >> Zach, just picking up on your,
12:01 did North-South debate with Mo.
12:03 I don't know if you saw this, but before the series,
12:05 Ben was asked to describe all of the team in one word.
12:08 He said you were argumentative.
12:10 I just wondered, is that fair?
12:12 What did you make of that?
12:13 >> Well, I feel like you're only argumentative
12:17 if someone's willing to have an argument with you.
12:18 So I'd say he's argumentative.
12:21 But no, I'm stubborn, certainly.
12:24 And I like a debate on things.
12:26 So maybe he's right.
12:27 But I was hoping for a nicer word than that.
12:29 But, yeah, I'll take it.
12:31 >> Beautiful.
12:31 Thank you.
12:32 >> Thank you.
12:32 >> Good luck.
12:32 [ Silence ]
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