Zak Crawley hits second fastest Test ton at Old Trafford on day two
TOP SPIN AT THE TEST: Crawley hits second fastest Test ton at Old Trafford and Moeen joins Broad, Botham and Flintoff in passing 3,000 runs and 200 wickets
- England made 384 at 5.33 an over – their best in an innings against Australia
- Chris Woakes has the lowest average for any bowler in the series with 11 at 18
- Re-live all the action as Zak Crawley helps England put Australia to the sword
Zak Crawley guided England to a dominant position on a fabulous day for the hosts at Old Trafford, which saw them 67 runs ahead at stumps on Thursday.
James Anderson began the day by dismissing Pat Cummins first ball and Chris Woakes completed his first Test five-for against Australia, Crawley quickly made up for the cheap loss of Ben Duckett’s, powering through to 189 by the evening session.
Moeen Ali steadied the ship at No 3 and contributed a composed 54 before Joe Root added a sublime 84, and by stumps England had been safely guided to the close by skipper Ben Stokes and Harry Brook, without the loss of a fifth wicket.
Australia were handed a further blow as opening bowler Mitchell Starc was forced off the field with a shoulder injury, having already looked to be struggling with a knee problem, and Cummins and Co will resume the attack on Friday looking for quick wickets in order to get themselves back into contention.
Here, Mail Sport’s Lawrence Booth takes you through some of the stats you might have missed from a thrilling second day of the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford.
Zak Crawley (left) starred for England with a brilliant 189, while Joe Root (right) added 84
Australia’s poor bowling was punished throughout a trying second day at Old Trafford for the visitors
Zak Crawley’s 93-ball hundred was the second-fastest in a Test at Old Trafford, behind Ian Botham’s 86-ball thrash against Australia here in 1981 – the last time England won an Ashes Test at this ground.
With his first Test fifty since January 2019, Moeen Ali became the fourth England player to complete the Test double of 3,000 runs and 200 wickets – after Ian Botham, Andrew Flintoff and Stuart Broad.
England have never made more runs at a faster rate in a Test innings against Australia than the 384 for four at 5.33 an over they have so far made here.
Chris Woakes picked up his first Ashes five-for in his 14th Test against Australia, and now has 11 wickets in this series at 18 – the lowest average of any bowler on either side.
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