Soon-to-be Kent director of cricket Simon Cook on batsman Zak Crawley being set to captain England for first time in three-match One-Day series against Ireland

Zak Crawley is being backed to have a successful One-Day series in charge of England by Kent’s incoming director of cricket Simon Cook.

Opener Crawley will join a select group of Kent players to captain his country having been named to lead England’s squad for the three-game series against Ireland.

The 25-year-old has three One-Day caps, earned when Covid ruled out the first-choice squad in 2021, but with some of the more experienced players in the England squad preparing for the World Cup in India, he’ll skipper the side alongside vice-captain Ben Duckett.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity,” enthused Cook. “Everyone is stoked for him.

“Just earlier that week, I was talking to him in the dressing room and he was a bit nervous about even getting in the side.

“Then I was talking to him that Friday and he said ‘We were having a joke about me even getting in the side and then - suddenly - I’m selected, in the side and captain!’ He just needs to be nice and relaxed, and do it his way.

“He’s captained games for Kent in Canterbury and done really well. He’s a guy who leads from the front.

“He won’t ask anyone to do something he wouldn’t do himself and I fully expect him to have a very successful series.”

The series will begin at Headingley on Wednesday, September 20, before further games at Trent Bridge on September 23 and Bristol on September 26, with the former Tonbridge School pupil’s inclusion, meaning he’ll Kent’s County Championship Division 1 run-in.

“There’s definitely leadership qualities in there, 100 per cent,” added Cook, speaking before it was revealed last week Crawley has signed a one-year Kent contract extension.

“He doesn’t run around shouting and screaming but, when he speaks, everyone generally listens. He makes