Ashes 2023 live: England v Australia fourth Test, day two score today – cricket latest updates

Two slips in for Harry Brook, but there’s been little movement off the straight to suggest they’ll be particularly busy. Brook is underway with a nurdle.

Joe Root is struck on the pad and Josh Hazlewood turns with a hopeful hoist of his hands, but a big stride outside off is the obvious limiting factor on a curtailed appeal.

Out comes Harry Brook, Test average a cool 64.25 as he begins with the most pristine of platforms laid. A couple of Yorkshiremen together on enemy territory with an hour or so left tonight to have some fun.

At last, Australia break through! A masterpiece from Zak Crawley is at an end as he chops on.

Almost every fielder comes across to offer a respectful shake of Crawley’s hand – a truly special innings ends eleven short of a second Test double-hundred. It was a slightly tired shot, a Cameron Green ball sitting in the surface slightly and perhaps shooting low, taking a bottom edge before rearranging Crawley’s stumps.

Old Trafford rises to salute one of the great Ashes innings.

A Joe Root swivel brings up the 200 partnership in 29 overs, and Australia are unravelling. Steve Smith tosses to no-one in particular, vaguely throwing at the stumps at the bowler’s end, and Pat Cummins’s mind is on other matters beyond, the captain not backing up as he should be. That turns one into three.

A half appeal from Mitchell Starc, almost desparing in nature, after hitting Joe Root on the pads from around the wicket. The angle is taking it down the legside by a distance, though Australia contemplate a review, perhaps in part to break up the rhythm. Starc isn’t at all convinced, though, and persuades Pat Cummins to keep his hands in his pockets.

Might one of Marnus Labuschagne or Steve Smith be worth a go to mix things up? Not yet. Cameron Green returns.

Into the lead with a maximum! Clean, clean hitting from Zak Crawley, a lift over long-on with flawless timing to take England in front.

An unhappy Mitchell Starc tosses the ball to Usman Khawaja for a quick assessment of shape, Khawaja passing on to the umpire for a more detailed investigation of the viability. It slips smoothly through the two rings, with no obvious bulges or bruises of concern – back to the bowler to resume the over. Joe Root carves Starc to a diving Cameron Green at backward point to pick up a couple more runs.

All a little bit unkempt from Australia, Mitchell Marsh over-stepping as England manoeuvre him into the gaps. Such a bludgeoning might usually give hope to the prospect of reverse swing, but the lulshness of the outfield, a green square and the relative brevity of this innings means it’s highly unlikely there’ll be any on offer – Australia look a little bit out of ideas.

England bring up 300 via the latest effective employment of the edge of Zak Crawley’s bat as they close in on Australia’s total.

It feels like Australia need something like that to break this game back open, a miscommunication between the batters as Joe Root prances after his own on-drive before being sent back. He scrambles home with a dive just in time as Alex Carey takes off the bails.

David Warner is installed as a short mid-on as Pat Cummins changes the picture for Zak Crawley. Crawley likes the look of it – down the track he comes to launch Marsh back over his head for a one-bounce four.

Alex Carey comes up to the stumps to try and keep Crawley confined. The batter prods past Warner to keep the strike.