Kent batsman Zak Crawley on England’s Ashes disappointment and his 189 in the fourth Test at Old Trafford

Kent batsman Zak Crawley expects England to continue building as a team - despite their Ashes disappointment.

Their hopes of an Ashes comeback were heartbreakingly ended by weekend rain at Old Trafford, which left the fourth Test as a draw and ensured Australia retain the urn.

It meant England didn’t get a chance to push for the final five wickets they needed to force a win. The tourists remained on 214-5 in their second innings, 61 runs behind the home side, with player-of-the-match Crawley’s century having helped Ben Stokes’ side post a massive first-innings 592.

Crawley said: “It’s pretty flat up there [in England’s dressing room].

“Obviously we were in a good position to win this game and, unfortunately, the weather has cost us a bit. We’re disappointed but we know we have played a lot of good cricket.

“We go onto the next one and keep building as a side, which we’re doing well.”

He went for a majestic 189, which included three maximums and 21 fours, from 182 balls when he chopped a delivery from Cameron Green back onto his stumps after reaching his fourth Test ton - and his first Ashes one.

When asked by former England skipper Michael Atherton at the end-of-game presentation if it was his best knock for his country, the 25-year-old replied to Sky Sports: “I’d say so.

“Considering the importance of the match, it has to be my favourite one. I was very pleased with how I played.

“I rode my luck at times but played really nicely so, yeah, I was happy.”

Overall, the former Tonbridge School pupil is the leading run-scorer in this Ashes series with 385 runs in seven innings and four matches at an average of 55.

He added: “I’ve felt in good touch all series, to be honest.

“I hadn’t quite had that score yet, so I had to keep