In the fourth Ashes Test, England is in control thanks to Zak Crawley's incredible 189.

 Crawley scored a remarkable 384 runs for England, smashing 21 boundaries and three sixes.

In the fourth Ashes Test, England is in control thanks to Zak Crawley's incredible 189.

The fourth Test of The Ashes 2023 saw an outstanding exhibition of cricket, as Zak Crawley's stunning 189-run innings left Australia in disbelief and gave England a substantial lead. Enjoy that one, then?

🍿 Replay the action in your mind.

Highlights from Day 2 at Old Trafford

Crawley's heroics have given England a great chance to stage a dramatic comeback in the series, perhaps tying it at 2-2, thanks to an electrifying display on the second day at Old Trafford.

The highest score by an England batter in a home Ashes Test in the previous 26 years was produced by Crawley in a performance that was nothing short of spectacular. His aggressive approach and deft strokework helped England to a dominant total of 384-4, giving them a 67-run advantage over the visitors.

In a captivating 182-ball innings, Crawley showed off his flexibility and supremacy against the Australian bowling attack by smashing an amazing 21 boundaries and clearing the ropes three times. He developed significant working relationships with his colleagues, notably a 121-run partnership with Moeen Ali, who made an astounding 54 runs at number three. Along with Joe Root, the former captain, who played a significant role with a good 84-run knock before being removed, Crawley also led an exhilarating double-century partnership.

Such a great day for the hosts!

Joe Root and Zak Crawley lead England to victory in Manchester

https://bit.ly/43ucaFf #WTC25 | #ENGvAUS

Ben Stokes and Harry Brook batted well to add 33 runs to England's lead in spite of the fact that Crawley and Root were dismissed by low-pitched deliveries.

The tone for England's dominating day was set by James Anderson's outstanding effort, which saw him remove Pat Cummins with the very first ball of the morning. Furthermore, Chris Woakes had a standout effort, taking five wickets for the first time in an Ashes Test to dismiss Australia for 317 runs.With poor weather forecasted for the weekend and an understanding of the value of quick scoring to take advantage of their advantage, England demonstrated restrained aggressiveness, magnificent stroke play, and savvy running between the wickets. Their outstanding hitting put them in a position to make Australia bat again on Friday before noon.

Even the most hopeful England supporters were blown away by the batting lineup's extraordinary performance. Their outstanding bowling performance on day one, which left Australia reeling at 299-8, prepared the pitch for a potential series-tying inning. However, England was equally conscious of the risk that one failure may jeopardise their prospects of taking home the Ashes urn.

Crawley's performance was genuinely exceptional, and it proved England's faith in him as a match-winner. After the interval, he unleashed a flurry of bold strokes that left the Australian bowlers perplexed and the fielders in disarray. He had previously shown incredible intellect and calm throughout his partnership with Moeen. His thunderous batting completely changed the stadium's energy and cemented his place in Ashes history.

Given that he came out of retirement for this series and played a critical role as England's middle-order batsman and frontline spinner, Moeen's performance was no less significant. With the addition of Root, England's position was further strengthened as the skipper displayed his recognisable flair while skillfully fending off Australia's short-ball strategy.

Even if the likelihood of heavy rain and the appearance of varying bounce on the ground might pose obstacles to England's goal of winning, they have created a tremendous chance for themselves. The possibility of a comeback looms huge because England has never overturned a 2-0 lead to win an Ashes series. The drama will play out at The Oval, where England has the opportunity to make history and capture a cherished series-leveling victory. The series has taken a fascinating turn. The anticipation among cricket fans is great, and everyone will be watching the concluding act of this captivating Ashes tale.