Rain spoils England’s charge as Australia retain the Ashes

The weather played spoilsport over the weekend in Manchester as the rain had the final say on days four and five of the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford between England and Australia, forcing the hosts to settle for a draw. Just 30 overs were delivered across the last two days of the Test, helping Australia establish an unassailable 2-1 lead in the five-match series and retain the Ashes.

Despite the bleak forecast, the skies cleared for a brief period after Lunch on day four to allow the game to commence, with Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh resuming the Australian innings on 113 for 4. However, England failed to make inroads under overcast conditions before bad light meant that only the spinners, Joe Root and Moeen Ali, could operate. Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh survived the tricky period against the seamers before the former went after Root to bring up his 11^th Test ton and second away from home.

The number three, though, couldn’t see Australia through till the end, edging Joe Root to Jonny Bairstow while attempting a cut on 111. The part-time off-spinner also went close to dismissing Mitchell Marsh, only for Harry Brook to spurn a tough chance at short-leg before the rain eventually intervened, with Australia 61 behind and England needing five more wickets.

Unfortunately, the showers refused to relent across day five, forcing play to be abandoned without a single ball bowled, ending the Test in a draw. The result ensures that Australia retain the urn for the fourth Ashes series in a row. It also gives Pat Cummins’ side the opportunity to complete their first series victory in England since 2001 in the fifth Test at the Oval.

For England, meanwhile, the weather puts a damp squib on their breathtaking performance at Old Trafford, denying Ben Stokes’ side their chance to make a comeback in the series and force a decider down south. Having snatched the momentum of the series at Headingley, England played with the weather in mind in Manchester, skittling Australia for 317 in their first innings and scoring 592 runs at nearly six an over in their essay.

However, the hosts didn’t have enough time to complete the job on days four and five as close to five sessions were washed out, resigning them to their first Test-match draw under the Stokes-McCullum reign.