England's Michael Owen (L) shoots past Jamaica's Damion Stewart (R) during their international friendly soccer match at Old Trafford, Manchester, England, 3 June 2006. AFP PHOTO/PAUL ELLIS

After his midweek experiment with Steven Gerrard playing as a support striker, Sven-Goran Eriksson reverted to England's traditional 4-4-2 formation and the combination of Crouch and Michael Owen in attack was highly effective in dismantling limited opponents.

On a day when the weather was more Kingston than Manchester, the giant Liverpool striker could afford the luxury of a missed penalty as he took his international tally to five goals on only his seventh appearance in an England shirt.

Owen's first goal of 2006, Frank Lampard's opener and an own goal by Jermaine Taylor made it a morale-boosting afternoon for Eriksson and his squad, 48 hours before their departure for Germany, although the feel-good factor was diminished somewhat by injuries to both John Terry and Ashley Cole off before half-time.

England's opening goal was a good illustration of the added dimension Crouch's partnership with Owen offers.

Rising to meet Paul Robinson's free-kick from deep in England's own half, the Liverpool striker produced a cushioned knockdown for his partner.

Owen, in turn, hooked the ball across the box and into the path of Lampard, who claimed his 11th England goal with a side-footed volley from close to the penalty spot.

Five minutes later, England doubled their lead after Omar Daley hacked down Joe Cole on the left touchline.

Beckham whipped the resulting free-kick in to the edge of the six-yard box at pace and the unfortunate Jermaine Taylor glanced the ball past his captain, Donovan Ricketts, in the Jamaica goal.

Jamaica's commitment to sending England off to Germany with a genuine contest under their belt had been underlined by some full-blooded challenges, one of which earned Taylor a yellow card.

But it was not until mid-way through the opening half that the Reggae Boys were able to muster a shot on target.

It came courtesy of a lapse by Terry, who flapped at a loose ball on the edge of the area in uncharacteristic fashion, presumably because of the hamstring injury that was to force him off the pitch ten minutes later.

Jason Euell snatched the opportunity to unleash a fierce drive that Robinson did well to beat out.

England were soon to extend their lead however. After winning a corner from a Beckham free-kick on the right, Crouch got on the end of his captain's delivery with a volley that found the net via a deflection off Daley.

It was not certain that Crouch's effort would have hit the target but it was nevertheless credited to the giant striker and he was able to treat the Old Trafford crowd to the first of three displays of his robotic dance goal celebration.

Owen's 36th England goal was not long in following. Rio Ferdinand's chip, struck with the kind of check spin Phil Mickelson generates with a lob wedge, sprung Jamaica's offside trap and Owen, sprinting clear, finished with aplomb.

After pushing the ball to the right of Ricketts, he darted round the right to collect the ball and push it into the empty net.

It was not all good news for England however. Three minutes after Owen had scored his first goal of 2006, Ashley Cole joined Terry on the sidelines and Luton Shelton and Ricardo Gardner both went close for Jamaica in the closing minutes of the half.

On the hottest day of the year so far in Manchester, the tempo of the match predictably dropped after the break, but England were still able to produce a well-worked fifth goal, mid-way through the second period.

Beckham's pass through the inside right channel sent Carragher clear of the Jamaica back line and his cross, driven low across the goalmouth, was tapped in by Crouch at the back post.

Crouch's afternoon looked like ending on a sour note when he fluffed an 82nd-minute penalty over the bar after substitute Khari Stephenson had pulled down Owen in the box.

But he made amends with a lovely first time finish from the edge of the area after Owen had squared Stewart Downing's cross back to him.