Sourav Ganguly, the former Indian captain and currently BCCI president was extremely impressed by England batsman Zak Crawley in the ongoing third and final Test match between England and Pakistan at the Ages Bowl in Southampton. He is playing since England’s reliable all-rounder Ben Stokes has returned to his hometown New Zealand citing family reasons.
The 22-year-old Zak Crawley has caused a headache for England selectors with his valiant knock and has a chance to be a regular No. 3 batsman in the England team after scoring 267 runs in 393 balls which included 34 boundaries and one six. His mammoth knock put him in 10th place in the all-time list of top scores by an English player. Zak Crawley had played only 7 tests before this ongoing one and scored only 314 runs at an average of 28.54 with three half-centuries, the highest being 76. Only 2 England players Len Hutton and David Gower were younger than him at the time of maiden Test hundred.
Zak Crawley. Image Credit: Getty Images.
Zak Crawley Should Play All 3 Formats Feels Sourav Ganguly
England won the first test by a narrow margin of three wickets while the second was drawn due to persistent rain and bad lights. Jos Buttler scored 75 and Chris Woakes scored an unbeaten 84 to lift the team from 117/5 and achieve the stiff target of 277 in the fourth innings of the first test against Pakistan at Manchester. One of the first Test’s heroes Jos Buttler scored 152 again in the third test and stitched a 359 run partnership for the fifth wicket which became the highest ever for England for the fifth wicket as England declared at a gigantic 583/8.
Sourav Ganguly advises England not to think of anyone else but Zak Crawley for the No.3 spot. In fact, he wants to see Zak Crawley performing in all three formats including white-ball cricket.
Zak Crawley and Jos Buttler. Image Credit: Getty Images.
Jos Buttler also chipped in with his career-best 152 but played second fiddle to Zak Crawley, who played all along the ground playing every possible shot including reverse sweeps, whips into the leg side, a chipped drive for six in the marathon innings that were played in empty stands but expected a capacity crowd.
Sourav Ganguly Says BCCI Monitoring Conditions To Resume Domestic Season
Sourav Ganguly meanwhile has said that India is ready to host the postponed T20 World Cup in 2021 and the ODI World Cup in 2023.
“The BCCI and the Indian cricket team will continue to fulfil its FTP commitments. The senior Indian men’s team will travel to Australia for its series starting in December this year, and will come back to the country for a series against England starting February next year.”
Sourav Ganguly. Image Credit: Getty Images.
“This will be followed by IPL 2021 in April,” Ganguly said in an email to all the affiliated units.
BCCI is keeping a strict eye and will ensure that domestic cricket resumes as soon as conditions improve. The coronavirus pandemic has ensured that no cricket was possible from March-end. Covid-19 pandemic has not only taken the lives of thousands across the world but also ensured that no sporting activity was possible for 5 months as the world spent their time at home to prevent the virus from spreading further.
“The BCCI is making all efforts to ensure that domestic cricket resumes as and when the conditions permit. The health and safety of players and all other involved in domestic cricket is of utmost importance to BCCI and we are constantly monitoring all aspects,” Ganguly wrote in the letter.
The domestic season consists of Ranji Trophy, Duleep Trophy, Irani Trophy, NKP Salve Challenger Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, Deodhar Trophy. The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy was played for the first time in 2008/2009 after T20 cricket was introduced. Several tournaments stand to be cancelled or the season may be extended as BCCI is fighting to maintain a packed schedule amidst cancellations largely due to the pandemic.
