Duckett and pal Crawley sparkle at Gold Trafford

ZAK CRAWLEY and Ben Duckett were the hottest double act in Manchester since a pair of stroppy brothers made a racket in Heaton Park.

- By Mike Walters

And if Crawley and Duckett can sing better than Oasis, it would not be a massive surprise.

Both fell within touching distance of a century as England, 225-2 at the close and only 133 runs behind India, took charge of the fourth Test at Old Trafford.

What's the story, morning Crawley? At the ground where he flayed the Aussies for 189 two years ago, the Kent opener's classy 84 was another glorious hand.

He greeted Ravindra Jadeja's spin with a succulent straight six, and creamed 13 fours before his 166-run Bazball alliance with Duckett in 32 overs was ended by a low slip catch.

Ben Here Now? Duckett was especially clinical off his pads and looked nailed on for his seventh Test hundred until he fell six runs short when India debutant Anshul Kamboj located his outside edge.