“You learn way more from your failures than your successes,” suggests Kent’s Zak Crawley, who hopes he has now found a formula for success.
Crawley admitted feeling under pressure for his England Test place after a series of low scores during what he described as his worst-ever summer.
After a season of scrutiny, Crawley closed with an unbeaten 57-ball 69 at The Oval to steer England to a nine-wicket win over South Africa last month and an attractive 79 to help Kent to safety in their final County Championship game against Somerset. “Up and down is generous - I reckon it’s been more just down," reflected Crawley. “It’s been a tough year, probably the worst summer I’ve ever had.
But I’m pleased with myself that I could bounce back. “I always thought I would, it just took me longer than I thought. "It’s nice to find some rhythm and take a bit of confidence into the winter.” Crawley hopes to have retained his England place ahead of a three-Test series in Pakistan in December, which is followed by two Tests in New Zealand next February. “Hopefully, all being well, I get picked in those squads," he said. "We’ll see what happens but I have got a lot of confidence going forward now. “The new way I have been playing towards the end [of the summer], is more positive, and I think that suits me more.” Crawley believes his summer of adversity could prove the making of him. “You learn way more from your failures than your successes,” said the former Tonbridge School pupil. “I have learnt an awful lot, mainly learnt what not to do!