I\ufeffnspired by the fastest-ever Test 150 scored at Old Trafford, England pulverised Australia on day two of the fourth Ashes Test.<\/p>\n
Zak Crawley belted 189 runs from just 182 balls, feasting on Australia's quicks and part-time tweaker Travis Head as the tourists rued the absence of a front-line spinner.<\/p>\n
Crawley combined for a 206-run stand from only 186 balls with Joe Root, who eventually departed for 84 from 95.<\/p>\n
A couple of awful doses of misfortune brought Crawley and Root undone, before Harry Brook (14) and Ben Stokes\ufeff (24) cautiously navigated England to 4-384 at stumps.<\/p>\n
The English were particularly dominant in the second session, pummelling 178 runs from 25 overs as they charged along at 7.12 runs per over.<\/p>\n
Crawley was in lethal touch, striking 21 fours and three sixes and proving particularly effective with his drives.<\/p>\n
Root\ufeff fed off the opener's energy but was more creative with his strokeplay, even hitting Pat Cummins for four with a reverse scoop to reach his half-century.<\/p>\n
Crawley was finally dismissed when he tried to slash a Cameron Green delivery through the off side, only for the ball to catch his bottom edge and crash into the stumps, while Root departed when his stumps were rattled by a Josh Hazlewood delivery that kept incredibly low.<\/p>\n
The day had begun with England cleaning up Australia's final two wickets for the loss of 18 runs, the hosts taking six overs to remove Pat Cummins for one and Hazlewood for four.<\/p>\n
"You've got to put your hand up and say, 'Well done and well played to England today'. That was outstanding," Ricky Ponting said in commentary as Stokes and Brook walked off at stumps.<\/p>\n
"Australia weren't able to add the overnight runs that they wanted to add to their total, and England have come out and completely dominated with the bat … What a day for Ben Stokes and his men."\ufeff<\/p>\n
MORE TO COME.\ufeff<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"