Australia have retained the Ashes after England’s pursuit of victory in the Fourth Test was scuppered by rain.
Ben Stokes’s side came into the match trailing 2-1 in the series and needing to win to set up a Fifth Test decider at the Oval next week.
England were well on top after three days of play but always wary that a grim weekend weather forecast could take the game’s destiny out of their hands.
Two sessions were washed out on Saturday, before torrential rain throughout Sunday saw play abandoned without a ball being bowled.
England had been five wickets from victory, with Australia needing another 61 runs just to force the home side to bat again, but with the downpour unrelenting and large puddles forming on the outfield, hands were shaken on the draw at 5pm.
Australia’s 2-1 lead means that, as holders, they will retain the urn even if England are to level the series to 2-2 with victory at the Oval next week.
The tourists, however, still have the incentive of trying to win a series on English soil for the first time since 2001, with the 2019 Ashes having also finished in a 2-2 draw after England won the Fifth Test at the Oval.
