Kent’s England opener Zak Crawley returned to form in some style over the weekend with a brilliant double century that almost saved the game against Somerset and coach Matt Walker is full of praise for the batsman.

The opener’s 238 from 267 balls in a little under five and a half hours, saw Crawley share stands of 194 with Ben Compton and 184 with skipper Daniel Bell-Drummond as Kent recovered from two poor days in Taunton, albeit in vain. 

Reflecting on the opener’s return to form, coach Matt Walker told us, “It was class and that is an understatement! When it was happening, it just looked so easy… I know the wicket had gotten a bit better to bat on, but the way he made it look so easy was just his quality and his skill – that is what was evident when you look back on that innings, it was just another level of ability really and showed his absolute quality!” 

“It was always coming,” Walker continued, “He may have made a relatively slow start which can happen and that is the world of the opening batsman.”

“You get a few early dismissals which can happen – and did – and then all of a sudden when he gets in; that is what he can do, and it was an extraordinary innings – it really was an absolute pleasure to watch and that is him down to a tee!”

“When he is in the mood and gets himself in, he’s right in the mood for it, then those things will happen.” 

“It was a wicket where everyone else had to work really hard and there were some good performances with Joe (Denly) in both innings – passing 19,000 runs for the county in the game – the skipper again, Ben Compton both innings, Grant (Stewart) at the back end as well.” 

“But Zak’s knock was miles apart from anything else in the game on both sides and he showed why he’s England’s opening batsman and why he is top of the tree in world cricket.”

“It was really great to watch and a privilege to watch it with everyone being in awe of his ability and how he went about constructing the innings.”