'I was shocked. I was just hoping to get in the team and play more for England' – Zak Crawley on being appointed as England Captain for Ireland series

In a surprising turn of events, Zak Crawley has found himself thrust into the role of captaincy for England in a forthcoming three-match ODI series against Ireland. This unexpected opportunity comes on the back of a summer where Crawley's dynamic prowess as an opening batter in the Ashes caught the eye of cricket enthusiasts worldwide. Notably, he also emerged as a significant presence in the dressing room, earning recognition as a potential future captain for England.

With Joe Root absent for the first game at Headingley, the responsibility of captaincy falls squarely on the 25-year-old's shoulders, supported by his vice-captain, Ben Duckett. Together, they aim to showcase the depth of talent within English cricket. Speaking about his appointment, Crawley expressed his initial astonishment by stating that he was just hoping to be part of the squad and play for England. But this move turned out to be a 'bolt from the blue' moment for the English batter.  

“I was shocked. I was just hoping to get in the team and play more for England. They told me I was captain and it's a great opportunity for me. It was as simple as that, he (Mathew Mott) was doing the rounds phoning everyone else so it was a pretty brief phone call but a pretty good call,” Crawley was quoted as saying by Mirror.co.uk. 

Zak Crawley impressed both Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler

Test captain Ben Stokes, himself a cricketing luminary, wholeheartedly endorsed his growth earlier in the season. The consensus within the English cricket hierarchy, including the head coach, Matthew Mott, and regular skipper Jos Buttler, is that the England top-order batter is well-suited to lead the team. These three one-day encounters, preceding the World Cup, will unveil the next generation of white-ball talent, aiming to propel the side forward after the Indian tournament.

Crawley, while having played only three ODIs two years ago, has had ample exposure to England's cricketing setups, closely observing the leadership styles of Stokes and Buttler. Both of them have enjoyed substantial success as captains, and the Bromley-born is eager to follow in their footsteps as he takes the helm for the first time, ushering in a new era for England's aspiring cricketers on the international stage.