Postpublished at 16:49 British Summer Time 20 July 2023
Batted, Zak...
Summary
England close on 384-4, leading by 67
Crawley hits majestic 189 off 182 balls
Crawley & Root put on 200 stand
Root hits superb 84 and Moeen makes fluent 54
Australia, who lead series 2-1, dismissed for 317
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Postpublished at 16:49 British Summer Time 20 July 2023
Eng 296-2published at 51 overs
Trail by 21
Woooft! Zak Crawley, in full T20 mode, charges Mitchell Marsh but skews the ball a mile into the air. It would have been a good approach to the 17th at Hoylake.
Pat Cummins races back from mid-off but cannot get there in time to take the catch, or stop the ball running on for four.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 16:45 British Summer Time 20 July 2023
#bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)
Australians starting to look a bit like rabbits caught in the headlights. Usually it's England, so perversely I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts.
Rob in Coventry
Not outpublished at 50.1 overs
Careful.
Joe Root races off for a single but Zak Crawley doesn't move. Root was halfway down but manages to scramble back in time.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 16:43 British Summer Time 20 July 2023
#bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)
Australia have suddenly found themselves where many have in the last 18 months, welcome to Bazball.
Damo in Loughborough
Postpublished at 16:43 British Summer Time 20 July 2023
Sam Drury
BBC Sport cricket writer at Old TraffordThat is just gorgeous from Zak Crawley.
Eng 290-2published at 50 overs
Crawley 166, Root 58
If Zak Crawley could bottle this up and take it everywhere with him he'd become an all-time great.
His 20th boundary comes as he slams Mitchell Starc through the covers - the ball flying out towards the hotel.
And there's another! This one is straighter but similarly impressive.
Postpublished at 16:41 British Summer Time 20 July 2023
Vic Marks
Former England spinner on BBC Test Match SpecialPat Cummins has taken the burden on himself, he has bowled 13 overs, to try and make the breakthrough, but hasn't looked that likely to do so.
It is the decent thing but not necessarily the best thing. Because if you do get some wickets you then want strike bowlers like Cummins and Mitchell Starc to come on and get the new batters before they are settled. But Cummins has used a lot of his fuel.
Eng 280-2published at 49.1 overs
Mitchell Starc is back. He has taken both wickets so far...
How's stat?!published at 16:37 British Summer Time 20 July 2023
Andy Zaltzman
Cricket statistician on Test Match SpecialZak Crawley's 150 from 152 balls is the fourth-fastest 150 in the history of the Ashes and the fastest by an England player since Kevin Pietersen at The Oval in 2005.
Eng 278-2published at 49 overs
Crawley 154, Root 58
A no-ball from Josh Hazlewood gifts England another run. Otherwise Australia's lanky seamer is keeping things tighter than at the other end.
Postpublished at 16:34 British Summer Time 20 July 2023
If you try to tell me this isn't your favourite shot in world cricket then I say you're lying...
Eng 276-2published at 48 overs
Trail by 41
Pat Cummins is going at 6.62 runs per over.
Postpublished at 16:31 British Summer Time 20 July 2023
Jim Maxwell
BBC Test Match SpecialLike Glenn McGrath in 2005 the loss of Nathan Lyon was crucial in this series.
150 for Zak Crawleypublished at 47.5 overs
Four more, this time thumped through mid-off.
Zak Crawley has 152 from 152 balls.
Eng 272-2published at 47.4 overs
This might be the shot of the day!
Zak Crawley creams Pat Cummins through mid-on.
Postpublished at 16:29 British Summer Time 20 July 2023
Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match SpecialA bit of tiredness creeping in for Australia? They have a very tough World Test Championship final against India at the start of the summer.
Eng 265-2published at 47 overs
Trail by 52
A very large beer snake is growing in the party stand.
I'm already doing the maths to work out how many runs England could lead by tonight. There are still 33 overs remaining.
How's stat?!published at 16:26 British Summer Time 20 July 2023
Andy Zaltzman
Cricket statistician on Test Match SpecialThat's Joe Root's fourth-fastest Test half-century and his fastest since 2017.
Eng 265-2published at 46.3 overs
Joe Root at his very best!
The former captain plays the late cut off Hazlewood to casually steal another boundary.
Long way to go but this feels like one of those horror days England suffer down under.