Horror day for Australia as Starc hurt at Old Trafford
Australia endured its worst day at the Ashes so far as Mitchell Starc suffered a shoulder injury and a thunderous 189 from Zak Crawley put England well on top in the fourth Ashes Test.
England went to stumps on day two on 4-384 in reply to Australia’s 317, while Starc left Old Trafford clutching at his left shoulder after landing hard diving for a ball late in the day.
The fast bowler was able to rotate his left shoulder around and while he returned to the field shortly afterwards, he immediately left again after fielding a ball on the boundary.
Starc (2-74) had earlier been spotted grabbing at his left hamstring while bowling and looking ginger, raising further concerns over the 33-year-old’s fitness.
It made an already bad Thursday for Australia even worse.
Leading the Ashes 2-0 a fortnight ago, Australia are now at risk of heading to The Oval for the series finale next week with the scoreline level at 2-2.
England’s big day came at just the right time, with the hosts trying to advance the match quickly with rain forecast for the whole of day four.
The hosts scored at a rate of 5.34 an over on Thursday, as Crawley and Joe Root plundered the tourists to all corners of Old Trafford.
Crawley’s 182-ball knock featured 21 boundaries and three sixes, prompting former England captain Nasser Hussain to label it one of the great Ashes innings.
It came as part of a 178-ball 206-run third-wicket partnership with Root, who was eventually bowled by a Josh Hazlewood ball that stayed at ankle height for 84.
But as well as the pair batted, Australia also had to shoulder a significant amount of the blame after they were guilty of appearing rattled by the hosts.
Pat Cummins dropped one catch and completely missed another, while
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