Zak Crawley, the Man of the Day, Completely Bamboozled the Australian Bowlers. England has the lead of 67 runs with 6 wickets in hand. Zak Crawley made a statement that he is not finished. Australia absolutely had no Clue How to Stop the ‘Bazball’ of England over them.
England made 384 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in just 72 overs, going on with the ridiculous run-rate of 5.33. They have already gone too far ahead in this match, leaving Australia to play a catch-up game now as it won’t be easy for them to make around 400 in the second innings.
Top Performer Of The Day
England’s opener Zak Crawley truly made the whole day for himself and his team. He scored 189 runs alone in a single day with a massive strike rate of 103.8. He took only 93 deliveries to reach his 4th century in Test cricket. His daddy hundred included 21 fours and 3 sixes.
Zak Crawley fell just 11 runs short of his well-deserved second double hundred in Tests. On the short ball delivery from Cameron Green, Crawley produced an under-edge that crashed straight into the stumps. Nevertheless, he became the 4th English opener in the home Ashes Tests to have the highest individual score in an innings.
Joe Root, who is enjoying the form of his life, missed the opportunity to get his 31st hundred. He made a quick 84 runs in just 95 balls with a handsome strike rate of 88.4. He also got involved in a 200-run partnership with Zak Crawley, which provided the much-needed boost to the hosts as they were 2-1 behind in this 5 test match Ashes series.
To name some more top performers of the day, Chris Woakes, who was the game changer of yesterday’s play, was one wicket short of grabbing his fifer. Today, he ensured to get his maiden fifer in the Ashes ever by cleaning up Australia’s last wicket, Josh Hazlewood. England’s spinning all-rounder, Moeen Ali, also notched his 15th Test half-century and crossed 3000 runs in Test cricket.
England Cruising at Top Speed at the Moment
England supporters must be over the moon to finally get to see the bazball at full horsepower speed, as England succeeded in playing the typical bazball cricket after quite some time. To play at a run rate of more than 5 from the very first ball, you’ve got to have some guts and, of course, the backing of the captain and coach.
Zak Crawley and Joe Root never let the Aussies take control even for a couple of overs, as both batsmen kept pushing with positive intent and showed no mercy to the Australian bowlers. If you want to know how Pat Cummins performed with the ball, his bowling figures in the first innings were 16-0-93-0. He looked completely lost as he had no answers to counter England’s supremacy.
What To Expect On Day 3
England must be eager to extend their lead to 150-200 runs as they still have a solid batting unit left in the form of Bairstow & Woakes. Ben Stokes and Harry Brook remained not out on day 2 and would love to continue with the same approach of attacking cricket. With a lead of 200, England must be sensing the opportunity to level the series 2-2, as winning from this scenario would be an uphill task for the visitors.
The Australian team will be under immense pressure after the heroics of Zak Crawley, as the visitors were left stunned after witnessing him play with them like a soft toy. To improve their situation, Australian bowlers need to pick the remaining 6 wickets as soon as possible. Not only do they need to take wickets, but they also need to bat extraordinarily well to pull out the Old Trafford Test.
Also Read: Ashes 2023: Rousing England Gears Up for Epic Ashes Showdown at Old Trafford