Buoyed by the fastest Test 150 scored at Old Trafford, England beat Australia on the second day of the match. the fourth Ashes tournament.
Zak Crawley smashed 189 runs from just 182 balls, enjoying the pace of Australia and all-rounder Travis Head as the visitors ignored the lack of a front-line spinner.
Crawley put together a stand of 206 from just 186 balls with Joe Root, who eventually departed on 84 from 95.
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A series of dangerous challenges led to Crawley and Root being dismissed, before Harry Brook (14) and Ben Stokes (24) drove England to 4-384, with a lead of 67, at stumps.
The Englishman was dominant in the second innings, scoring 178 runs from 25 overs at 7.12 runs per over.
Crawley was in lethal form, hitting 21 fours and three sixes and proved to be very effective with his drives.
Root was fed by the opener’s power but was more productive with his style of play, even hitting Pat Cummins for four with a return scoop to reach his half century.
Crawley was dismissed when he tried to kill Cameron Green through the backside, only for the ball to catch an edge and land on the stumps, while Root was dismissed when his stumps were rattled by a delivery to Josh Hazlewood that fell too low. .
As Crawley’s innings drew to a close, the crowd at Old Trafford rose to their feet as many Australians, including Alex Carey, Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith, rushed to congratulate him.
The day had begun with England managing Australia’s last two wickets for just 18 runs, the bowlers taking six overs to remove Cummins for one and Hazlewood for four.
“You have to put your hand up and say, ‘Well done, playing for England today’. That was fantastic,” Ricky Ponting said in response as Stokes and Brook left stumps.
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“Australia have not been able to add the overnight runs they wanted to add to their tally, and England have come out and completely dominated with the bat… What a day for Ben Stokes and his men.”
Khawaja dives down for a big catch
While the Australians were happy to see Root back on the field, the manner in which he was sent off must have sent shockwaves through the touring camp.
As Hazlewood’s delivery slows down, batting in this Manchester match at the end of the Test will be difficult.
Another problem facing Australia is the fitness of Mitchell Starc, who finished the day’s play with a left shoulder injury.
In the 65th over of England’s innings, Starc made a difficult catch after diving to save a boundary in the middle of the night.
Earlier in the day, the left-armer was left clutching a nerve after diving a ball close to the boundary.
He showed signs of a hamstring injury throughout the day, especially when playing football or returning to the top of his run.
The English had to speed up the second day, due to a 2-1 deficit in the series and buckets of rain in Manchester in the last three days.
Day three promises a lot of running from the home side, and another bold declaration from Stokes could follow.
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