"I watched you playing the other week, loved it" - Zak Crawley on how English people are enjoying the Bazball brand
England batter Zak Crawley has been one of the flagbearers of their ultra-attacking ideology, also known as Bazball. While England have won several Tests at home with this philosophy, there have also been times when their method has been criticized, especially after the Ashes and the series against India earlier this year.
However, Crawley shed light on how people in England love the way the Test side has been playing. He feels that the impact that the side has had over the crowd is something that will not be shown by any scoreline.
Speaking to the reporters ahead of the second Test against the West Indies at Trent Bridge, here's what Zak Crawley said at the press conference at Trent Bridge:
"I certainly feel we get more comments from people outside the ground saying, 'I watched you playing the other week, loved it.' That's awesome to hear, it's what you want. You want people to enjoy watching you play and I certainly feel that was heightened after the Ashes last year."
Crawley reiterated the idea that Bazball brand had - to provide something for the people in England to enjoy.
Zak Crawley on James Anderson being a bowling mentor
Zak Crawley is also looking forward to seeing James Anderson in a new role as the bowling mentor for the rest of the English summer after he retired from Test cricket last week. Crawley cheekily mentioned that he is hopeful of getting some freebies from Anderson in the nets and said:
"He (Anderson) said he's going to bowl in the nets. I just hope he's going to bowl cross-seam. I've faced enough seam-up balls from him. He'll put the ball wherever he wants I suppose. A few fluffers and half-volleys from now on I think, Jimmy."
England will play a home Test without either of James Anderson and Stuart Broad for the first time since 2012. While Zak Crawley understands that the transition could be crucial given the stature of the two legendary bowlers, he is confident that the likes of Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes and others will step up and make it a smooth transition.