(Ashes, fourth Test, Day 2.)
Zak Crawley and Joe Root put on an exhibition of stroke making after lunch on the second day of the fourth Ashes test at Old Trafford in Manchester, United Kingdom, to put on the best.
The outstanding performance of Moeen Ali, who was bowled by Mitchel Starc and caught by Khawaja, assisted English opener Zak Crawley in the opening innings. After Moeen Ali, England’s top batsmen of his era Joe Root joined Crawley.
Crawley scored 189 runs on just 182 balls for a 103.84 percent strike rate. The second day’s outstanding inning turned the Old Trafford test in England’s favor. 21 fours and three sixes helped him to finish his 189-run innings.
Second Session of Day Two belongs to Zak Crawley:
England scored 178 runs in the second session of day two, at an astounding run rate of 7.16, setting a new record for a session in this continuing series.
Following the dismissal of Moeen Ali, Crawley and Root entered the crease for England. barely received a 130. Moeen had scored a valiant 54 runs on 82 balls at a 65.85 strike rate.
Root emerged intending to assault. These two put a tremendous amount of pressure on the Australian pace assault with their incredible boundaries hitting skills.
Before Zak Crawley was ultimately removed by the Australian all-rounder Cameron Green, the double century partnership came at over run a ball. The stumps’ inside edge, dismissed Crawley Sadly. England managed to score 336/3 runs at a run rate of 5.95 in 56.5 overs.
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Following Zak Crawley’s departure, Josh Hazlewood bowled Joe Root out for 84 runs. Hazlewood’s first ball, which didn’t bounce much in the 61st over, cleaned him up.
Zak Crawley did Twice
The quickest run rate double century partnership in test cricket history was Crawley and Joe Root’s 206 on 178 ball stand. At over run a ball, six double century partnerships have been noted. In a different match last year in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Ben Ducket and Zak Crawley together scored 233 runs in just 213 balls.
Double Century stands at More than six runs per Over:
| Partners | Runs | Balls | Country | Run Rate | Venue | Year | Opposition |
Zak Crawley and Joe Root | 206 | 178 | England | 6.94 | Old Trafford | 2023 | Australia |
| J. Bairstow and stokes | 399 | 346 | England | 6.92 | Cape Town | 2016 | South Africa |
| Adam Gilchrist and Mathew Hayden | 233 | 203 | Australia | 6.89 | Perth | 2006 | Zimbabwe |
| Zak Crawley and Ben Ducket | 233 | 214 | England | 6.53 | Rawalpindi | 2022 | Pakistan |
| JA Burns and David Warner | 237 | 226 | Australia | 6.29 | Brisbane | 2015 | New Zeland |
| AB de Villiers and Grame smith | 217 | 209 | South Africa | 6.23 | Cape Town | 2005 | Zimbabwe |
Zak Crawley achieved his maiden fifty on 67 balls and his second fifty on just 26 balls on day two of the fourth test. In the ashes, he performed a great performance. The Old Trafford audience gave it their all in terms of support. They praised Zac Crawley and Joe Root for their exceptional teamwork.
With 150 or more runs, Crawley’s strike-rate of 103.84 is the second-highest in an Ashes inning. The record-holder is Adam Gilchrist, who scored 1452 runs off 143 balls in 2001 at Edgbaston.
