England v Zimbabwe: Zak Crawley did not feel extra pressure on place in team

Opener Zak Crawley said he was not feeling any extra pressure for his place in the England team before making 124 on the opening day of the one-off Test against Zimbabwe.

The 27-year-old endured a torrid tour of New Zealand at the end of last year and, along with number three Ollie Pope, appeared to be under threat from Jacob Bethell.

But with Bethell absent at the Indian Premier League, both Crawley and vice-captain Pope helped themselves to centuries as England piled on 498-3 at Trent Bridge.

Asked if he and Pope were feeling the squeeze on batting places, Crawley said: “I can’t speak for Ollie, but I certainly don’t feel like that.

“When you play for your country you are going to be surrounded by good players and that pressure is going to be coming all the time.

“Throughout my career, from when I was very young until now, I’ve always been made a better player by people around me doing well, forcing me to be better.”

Bethell, 21, made half-centuries in each of the three Tests in New Zealand, but will not be available for Test cricket until the series against India in June because of his spell with Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the IPL.