Kent's director of cricket Paul Downton backs Zak Crawley to impress for England during Test series in the West Indies

Kent's director of cricket Paul Downton is backing Zak Crawley to have a successful England series in the West Indies.

Crawley has retained his place as part of a new-look 16-man squad after England’s Ashes defeat in Australia.

The 24-year-old is expected to open the batting alongside Durham's Alex Lees.

Right-handed Crawley burst onto the international stage with a brilliant 267 against Pakistan in 2020 but hasn’t scored an international century since.

But Crawley did make a fluent 77 in Sydney and built up to the first Test, which gets under way today (Tuesday) at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, with 62 against a Cricket West Indies President’s XI.

Downton thinks it’s only a matter of time before Crawley comes good for England.

“I think that 70-odd he scored in Sydney really changed the narrative about England’s batting in Australia," he said.

“He is somebody who oozes class. I think the Australians couldn’t believe that he hadn’t been playing more or that he had such a bad run really - his numbers don’t back up his talent yet.

“But to my mind, it’s only a matter of time before he establishes himself and then I think he will become a very strong feature and fixture in the England side. I know he is very determined.

“He is looking forward to it - a left-handed, right-handed combination with Alex Lees, which will have a very new look. They are both big, tall, guys and will have the ability to score runs, as well as just occupy the crease.

“I expect him to do well.”

Alongside Crawley, team-mate Sam Billings now also has an England Test cap under his belt and, although the Kent skipper has not been selected for the tour of West Indies, Billings is keen to add to his sole Test appearance in Hobart.

Billings is expected to