Zak Crawley has made a bold prediction for the second Ashes Test, backing England to beat Australia by 150 runs at Lord’s.
Australia are 1-0 up in the five-match series after securing a thrilling two-wicket win over the hosts at Edgbaston.
Pat Cummins’ side are aiming to retain the Ashes and become the first Australian side to win a Test series in England since 2001.
England, meanwhile, are looking to win back the Ashes for the first time since 2015 against a team who were crowned world Test champions earlier this month.
‘I think we’ll win [at Lord’s],’ Crawley told Times Radio. ‘I think the pitch will suit us a bit more so I think we’ll win by, I don’t know, 150 runs?
‘We’re not about results. We’re not about winning or losing, we’re about entertainment. That’s why we took [this loss] better than other losses perhaps, because it was great for the game.
‘Of course we’re there to win and it helps our brand and what we’re trying to do. If we win, we get more traction. But I don’t think we’ve lost anything this week other than a game of cricket.’
Crawley smashed the first ball of the Ashes series for four before registered a half-century in England’s 393-8 declared.
Australia trailed by seven runs after their first-innings but were set an achievable 281 after chipping away at England in the third innings.
England were on top when Australia slipped to 89-3 and 227-8 but a 55-run partnership between Cummins and Nathan Lyon guided the tourists to a narrow win.
Ollie Robinson aimed a foul-mouthed send-off at Australia centurion Usman Khawaja at Edgbaston, with Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting since taking digs at the England pace bowler.
Crawley believes there could be ‘niggle’ between the players throughout the series but insists the Australians are ‘good fellas’.
Asked whether he had any verbal interactions with the Aussies, Crawley said: ‘The Edgbaston crowd was so loud, to be honest with you, that you genuinely couldn’t hear anything they were saying.
‘At Lord’s, with a little bit more of a quiet hum, you might hear a bit more. In general, they’re good fellas, we’re good fellas.
‘I think as the series goes on there’s going to be a few incidents, maybe, that will cause a bit of niggle and it’ll get more and more.
‘Everyone’s extremely competitive on an individual level and obviously on the team level. I’m sure by the fifth match, there’ll be some niggle.’
MORE : England call up spinner for Ashes who Shane Warne praised five years ago
MORE : Ollie Robinson has ‘learned his lesson’ after Usman Khawaja Ashes send-off
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