Centurion Zak Crawley says England will push for victory in first Test

GEORGE DOBELL IN ANTIGUA: Crawley struck his second Test century, as part of a 193-run stand with captain Joe Root, to give the tourists a 153-run lead head into day five

Zak Crawley believes England’s dominant second innings performance has given them a chance to push for victory on the final day in Antigua.

Crawley put on 193 runs with Joe Root for England’s second-wicket, registering his second Test century in the process and earning their side a 153-run lead going into the final day.

As well as celebrating a long-awaited second Test century, Crawley believes the partnership has given England an outside chance of achieving their first-ever Test victory in Antigua despite a slow surface offering little to bowlers.

“We are going to try and win, for sure,” Crawley said after play. “It's something we'll discuss tonight but I think we'll want a minimum of 65-70 overs.

^{Crawley and Root put on 193 to put England into the ascendency (Randy Brooks/Getty Images)}

“Is it possible we could take 10 wickets? I think the pitch needs to break up a little more. But if we bat well and give ourselves 70 to 75 overs to bowl them out, then maybe.

“Hopefully it starts spinning and breaking up. Even if it doesn't we'll try all day. You always have a sniff when the pressure is on the scoreboard.”

It could leave a delicate situation for Root to make regarding any declaration.

While he will be desperately keen to maximise any chance of a rare overseas victory, he will be aware that there are question marks over the fitness of Mark Wood, his quickest bowler, and that with another Test starting in days, he will not want to weary his other bowlers. At this stage, there is very little evidence the pitch will deteriorate sufficiently to push for victory.

"I've tried to put away a few more shots that I was playing last year and getting me into trouble, that's what I've been trying to do: just make the game a bit more simple."

Crawley, meanwhile, admitted there were times he had wondered if he would ever make another Test century. His first, a majestic innings of 267 against Pakistan, came in August 2020.

But while most expected it to be the first of many, the subsequent months have been tough for Crawley. He endured a string of low scores (in 20 innings before this Test, he reached 40 only twice and failed to make double-figures on 11 occasions) and was dropped in the summer of 2021.

But he credited greater discipline with the bat and a slightly adapted technique for the improvements.

“There were times when I thought I wouldn’t get another 100,” he said. “But I’m thankful that I could get another one today.

^{Several rain delays blunted England's progress (Randy Brooks/Getty Images)}

“I like to put some pressure on the bowlers but I've certainly tried to rein my game in a bit more since coming back into the team. I've tried to put away a few more shots that I was playing last year and getting me into trouble, that's what I've been trying to do: just make the game a bit more simple.

“In Australia, I moved a bit more across [my stumps, to take an off stump guard] and tried to open up the leg side a bit more, which is a strength of mine. I was a fraction more open today with the low bounce but I know where my off stump is a bit more.

“Against the new ball, the drive [through the off side] is not an easy shot to play. I’m much more comfortable playing through the leg side. That’s not ruling out the off side game - there’s still plenty of runs to be had there – it’s just knowing when to play it.

“I'm very happy, it's a good day for us and gives us a chance on the last day.”