Kent batsman Zak Crawley blasts first Ashes century during fourth Test at Old Trafford

Batsman Zak Crawley emphatically blasted his first Ashes century as England took control of the fourth Test at Old Trafford on Thursday.

England hit the accelerator on day two - with rain expected to limit play over the final two days this weekend and the hosts needing to win to keep the five-game series alive - with 25-year-old Crawley leading the charge.

The former Tonbridge School pupil, who had been given out lbw in the first session off Cameron Green before he successfully reviewed, brought up his fourth Test ton with a cut for two from Australia captain Pat Cummins.

He eventually went for a majestic 189, which included three maximums and 21 fours, off 182 balls when he chopped a delivery from Green back onto his stumps. Nevertheless, England had reached 384-4 by day two’s close, a lead of 67 runs.

His century had come from 93 balls, with Crawley’s second 50 made inside just 26 balls.

It was his biggest Ashes score after he had contributed a first-innings 61 in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston and 48 at Lord’s in the second game before he was stumped.

Indeed, the right-hander’s 189 was the highest score by a Kent men’s player in an innings during an Ashes series. It surpassed the 188 by Mike Denness for England in Melbourne in 1975.

“I enjoyed it a lot,” he told Sky Sports. “It was good fun.

“I rode my luck at times - quite a lot of the time - but hit some good shots along the way. I was very pleased.”

It was Crawley’s first Test hundred since December, as he answered some of his critics after a poor run for England ahead of the series.

He revealed: “I do doubt myself but, at times, you’ve got to tell yourself ‘Keep being me.’ That’s the way I play, quite streaky, and I’ve got to ride my luck at times.

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