Ashes 2023: Bazballing England take firm control over the 4th Test

At Emirates Old Trafford, England roared into the lead thanks to Zak Crawley’s 189 off 182 balls, giving them hope that they can defeat a frazzled Australian team and the Manchester weather to tie the series two-all.

Ben Stokes suggested the day before this Test that England would change their tactics in accordance with the predicted cancellation of the fourth and fifth days by doubling down on their ultra-attacking style with the bat. The team defeated Australia’s first-innings 317 in just 55 overs, keeping their captain’s pledge.

A proper session of Bazball

Crawley was the one who took the helm. After a poor start before lunch, he batted with complete disregard against the best seam attack in the world for the remainder of the afternoon. He flicked the opening ball of England’s innings past Alex Carey for four. His first Ashes hundred, the fourth-fastest by an Englishman, came off just 93 balls, leaving Pat Cummins and his bowlers ineffective.

England added 178 runs in 25 overs during a thrilling second session, scoring at a run rate of 7.12. Crawley drove, flicked, and slog-swept his way to three figures alongside Moeen Ali and Joe Root, both of whom struck half-centuries of their own, before accelerating over 150 after tea.

He bottom-edged a swing across the line onto his own stumps, falling 11 runs shy of a second Test double-hundred, but at that point, he had surpassed everyone else in the series in terms of runs scored. It served as confirmation of England’s confidence in an opening batsman who had an average below 30 when he came at the stadium on Thursday morning but has since come to symbolise their advancement under Stokes and Brendon McCullum.

By the time the close rolled around, Mitchell Starc had injured his left shoulder while diving in the field, leaving Australia bowler-short. They lacked any sort of control despite losing Root for 84 on a drive that flew through low from Josh Hazlewood, and they chose not to field a frontline spinner for the first innings.

Stay updated with all the cricketing action, follow Cricadium on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram