Ashes weather could define the final day of England’s clash with Australia at Old Trafford
England’s hopes of setting up a winner-takes-all Ashes decider were wiped out by the Manchester weather, with a fifth-day washout in the fourth Test handing the urn to Australia.
The most pessimistic forecasts came to pass at Old Trafford as relentless rain meant the players never made it to the middle, salvaging a draw for the tourists and rendering their 2-1 series lead unassailable.
England arrived 61 ahead and needing five wickets to get over the line but left without a ball being bowled. They have all but eliminated the concept of the draw since captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum ushered in the ‘Bazball’ era more than a year ago, but – for the first time in 17 games at the helm – conditions finally left them with no cards to play.
After weeks of blockbuster entertainment in the closest, most exciting Ashes contest since 2005, a shootout for glory at the Oval next week was on the cards if there had been enough time for England to convert their dominance. Instead, dreams of a stirring comeback to beat their rivals for the first time since 2015 were swept away, leaving the holders to retain in circumstances that will surely ring hollow.
Follow reaction from day five at Old Trafford as England face Australia:
