Zak Crawley relieved to repay England’s faith with ton against West Indies

Zak Crawley was a relieved man after repaying England’s faith with a long-awaited hundred in the first Test against the West Indies.

Crawley took full advantage of a tepid fourth-day pitch in Antigua to make an unbeaten 117, showing off his range of pulls, cuts and drives after taking the time to play himself in.

In doing so he shared a 193-run stand with captain Joe Root and guided his team to a watertight 217 for one. That places them 153 ahead with three sessions of the match remaining, second favourites behind the draw.

This was an already an important personal triumph, though. Crawley announced himself on the international stage in grand fashion 19 months ago, blazing 267 against Pakistan to put his name up in lights at the age of 22.

But from the highest of highs came the lowest of lows. He averaged just 10.81 last year, losing some of his natural spark along the way and was finally dropped late in the summer in a bid to spare him any further damage.

Yet his removal felt different to others who have been axed in recent times. He was kept close, assured of his worth and handed a route back into the side just five games later during the Ashes.

“It means an awful lot to score a hundred. It’s been a while since my last one and there were times last year when I didn’t think I’d get another,” he said.

“But when I got taken out of the team, they said I had a big future, which I was very thankful for. It gave me a lot of confidence. I was thankful they picked me again. I always believed in myself that I would come again. Maybe not so soon, but I knew I was young and I had a chance to come again.

“I feel in good touch now, so hopefully I can make the most of it.”

Crawley’s barren run lasted 21 innings since his double ton,