Ian Bell: England should take heart from Zak Crawley's batsmanship in Sydney

Former England batsman Ian Bell and Ryan Harris were discussing the Ashes on the Inside Edge series with bet365.

England claimed a hard-fought draw in the fourth Test against Australia in Sydney and five-time Ashes winner Ian Bell hopes young opener Zak Crawley can kick on after his impressive second-innings 77 at the SCG.

"Zak had a really tough year in 2021 but he showed the level of batsmanship he can produce, the way he played Pat Cummins in particular," Bell says. "He showed everyone that he has the ability to become a fine Test-match player.

"I'm hoping we start to see a more consistent Zak Crawley because England need one of these young batsmen to come through and help support Joe Root, who was absolutely incredible in terms of his numbers in 2021, all around the world, on the subcontinent and in England."

Ex-Australia paceman Ryan Harris is also a big fan of the England captain, saying: "The best players play well in all conditions and Root has done that. I would say he's the number-one batsman in the world. He hasn't got that elusive hundred he's looking for over here but maybe with a little bit of momentum from England's draw in Sydney he could get one in Hobart.

"Jimmy Anderson has got better and better during this series. The crowd would love him to play in Hobart because it may be the last time we see him on Australian soil, unless he comes back as a 44-year-old – you never know with him!"

Harris believes 2022 could be a breakthrough year for several members of the Australia Test squad. "Scotty Boland had an unexpected chance in this Ashes due to injury and I don't think we've seen the best of Cameron Green yet," he says.

"Australia have got quite a bit of cricket on the subcontinent coming up so we're going to see what Mitchell Swepson can do as a bowler. He's a ripping leg-spinner from Queensland and I think he's one who could jump out of the gates in conditions where Australia are able to play two spinners."

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