Zak Crawley: 'This isn't the end because it's the Ashes, it's the start'

By the time Monday came around, the rains had ceased in Manchester. The clouds were finally empty after a weekend of showers. And just to rub it in, the sun dipped in and out of view as a reminder it was still up there on this, the first morning in which the 2023 Ashes were no longer live.

An abandoned match and a draw in the fourth Test has Australia taking the urn back with them, boasting an unassailable 2-1 lead heading into the fifth Test at the Kia Oval. The great decider that was supposed to send English cricket into the stratosphere is now signposted as the tourists' chance to win their first overseas Ashes series since 2001.

Nevertheless, mimicking the two-all scoreline of 2019 is a huge motivation for this England side. Unlike then, when the fifth Test had a very end-of-term feel, with the only thing missing being both sides playing out the match in jeans, Ben Stokes' charges have the opportunity to affix an asterisk to Australia's retention.

They believe they have been the most assertive across the series so far, despite the fact they were 2-0 down after two. And while it may only be an asterisk that those in the dressing-room can see, the fact that the weather stopped them from going into the final match on Thursday with it all to play for has England feeling robbed. A squared series at the end, to them, would represent some form of justice.

"I think 2-2 would be fair," said Crawley, whose stunning 189 from 182 deliveries drove England to 592 for a 275-run first-innings lead that they could not cash in. "They had the better of us at Lord's, Edgbaston could have gone either way. We probably deserved this one and Headingley could have gone either way. So I think two-all would be right. We'll see, hopefully we can get it.

"We'll play the same way and to know we can make a big score. It suits us to have a little in the wicket - we'll see what happens. That's the beauty of a five-Test series; you get a look at them, work out tactics and nuances. I've never played a five-match series before this one.

"We're massively up for it. And as Stokesy says, we're building as a team, this isn't the end just because it's the Ashes. It's very much the start, hopefully."

Even amid the positivity, Crawley admitted the Old Trafford dressing-room was flat when the match was eventually abandoned on day five, at around 5.24pm. A consistent downpour across days four and five meant England were only able to bowl 30 out of a possible 180 overs to push for victory.

Up until Friday evening, England had played more or less the perfect game; reducing Australia to 113 for 4 in their second innings, trailing by 162, by stumps on day three. Alas, it was all in vain.

"It's pretty flat," said Crawley of the mood among the squad. "We're disappointed we've played a lot of good cricket in this game. We wanted to win, we were in a good position to win, and two days of rain cost us. But that's how it is."

As for Crawley personally, his innings took him to the top of the run-scorers charts this series - comfort for a player derided as a weak link throughout Stokes' and Brendon McCullum's time in charge. He arrived into the fixture with handy starts, including 61 in his first knock of the series, which he marked by striking the first ball of the first Test at Edgbaston for four off Pat Cummins.

He continued on in a similar vein and, as such, his 385 runs so far - at an average of 55.00 - have come from just 428 deliveries. Number two on the list, Australian opener Usman Khawaja, has scored his 377 from more than twice as many (961).

"I feel I'm as good a player as I have ever been," Crawley said, having now passed 2,000 career runs and lifted his 38-cap average to 31.01. "I feel good about my game, I'm pleased with how I'm playing - I've just got to build on it. I have a bit more experience now, things to fall back on in different conditions, so yes, I feel I can kick on now."

Crawley agreed that Australia's extra pace throughout their attack has been a contributing factor to his upturn in performance. And on what should be an Oval pitch favouring batters, the Kent batter hopes to cash in once more before the Test summer concludes.

"I think so, I certainly feel quicker attacks do. Fast bowling suits my game. The Australian attack is a quick attack and I think a bit less when they're faster. I think that just suits my game a bit more. They are unbelievable bowlers, they present different challenges.

"I love batting at The Oval for Kent, and I have played one Test match there and did okay (five and 69 not out against South Africa last summer). Hopefully it's a decent wicket and a good game."