England international Zak Crawley will be ready to hit the ground running should he get a starting berth with the Sunrisers Eastern Cape when they host MI Cape Town in the opening match of the Betway SA20 at St George’s Park on Thursday.
The two-time champions will be looking to get their campaign off to a solid start in Gqeberha and Crawley will be keen to play a role as the first- and last-placed teams from season two’s group stages square off.
While he is yet to be capped internationally at T20 level, Crawley has recorded solid T20 figures at the domestic and franchise level, scoring 1,771 runs in 76 matches.
That includes a career-best 108 not out, in addition to eight half-centuries in the format, playing in various tournaments including the Vitality Blast, Big Bash League and The Hundred.
“It was quite unexpected but a great privilege to be sought after by the club, being the champions of the last two years.
“I am quite keen to get going on Thursday,” Crawley said.
He said the calmness and excellent man-management skills of head coach Adrian Birrell were something he looked forward to.
“I’ve seen him in county cricket with Hampshire,” he said. “I’ve always admired his attitude [towards coaching and the game in general] and calmness around the group.
“I’m keen to get to know my teammates a lot better as well.
“Aiden Markram was someone I looked up to in my career and I have also played against the SA players, who I have always found to be a competitive bunch.
“And I’ve always had a good relationship with the other English players, on and off the field.”
Crawley said his main objective as one of the more senior members of the side was to be a positive and calming influence on his teammates.
“I want to bring a positive attitude to the group, be a positive influence on everyone and keep my emotions in check as best I can.
“If I can do that, It will help me to put up match-winning performances for the team.”
Getting through the group stages would be a major shot in the arm and Crawley said if they could achieve that there was no reason they could not have another deep run in the competition.
“[Getting to the playoffs] is certainly our first goal. I feel that after this couple of days of training the team is shaping up nicely.
“We have a couple of Test players still to join the group, so things are looking positive and there is a really good spirit in the changeroom,” he said.
With the much-spoken-about Gqeberha crowd once again expected to show their full support for the men in orange, Crawley said he was looking forward to being a part of that atmosphere.
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