592/10 (107.4)
CR : 5.50
RR : 0.00
Match Drawn
Player of the Match
Zak Crawley
189(182)
Match Drawn
9:56 PM IST, 17:26 Local Time: The stars haven’t aligned for England. The overhead conditions, which usually give its best for the English side, haven’t blessed them when they needed it the most. A constant downpour as predicted, and day five has been abandoned without a single ball being bowled. Ben Stokes, England skipper, was seen with a disappointed face, and it has been seriously disappointing if you are an English. But, on the other hand, the Aussies have retained the Ashes with a game in hand. The series will move to its final Test match at the Kennington Oval starting on July 27, 2023, with the hope for better weather.
Ducks and the Kangaroos were the only ones to carry smiles on their face! Hehe, Australia have just been lucky here, I suppose. It should have been 2-2 moving into the decider, but the Australians have been just lucky here to get away with this Test. Congratulations to them for retaining yet another Ashes. Happened ten years ago that England retained the Ashes in 2013, and it was courtesy of rain at Old Trafford as well, just that the roles have been exchanged for the current series!
England were on the front foot right from the start of this Test. Stokes put Australia into bat once he won the toss. A tremendous spell from Chris Woakes, reading 22.4-4-62-5, dismantled the visitors for 317 in just over a day’s play. There were plenty of starts from Australia, but none of them went on to make it a big one. Fifties from Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh, 40s from Steven Smith and Travis Head and 30s from Mitchell Starc and David Warner just kept the batting side going despite losing wickets at regular intervals.
In response, England came with a proper Bazball show, with Zak Crawley leading the way with an innings for ages. Apart from Ben Duckett, everyone who batted in the top seven amassed quality runs at a brisk pace. Crawley just brushed Australian bowlers away and amassed a daddy hundred, scoring 189 off 182 balls before unfortunately getting chopped on off Cameron Green. Moeen Ali scored a nice fifty, and Joe Root hammered runs at will, smashing 84 in no time, followed by half-centuries from Harry Brook and skipper Stokes.
England were at 474/6, and Jonny Bairstow was in charge. Maybe, Stokes could have declared at some point, but he allowed Bairstow to play aggressively towards his century. No doubt that a Test hundred is very special, but definitely country should have been put ahead given the weather around. Guess what? Jonny B was left stranded at 99 as James Anderson has found dead plumb in front, with England getting bundled out after posting a mammoth first-innings total of 592 and leading Australia by a huge margin of 275 runs. Josh Hazlewood was the pick of the bowlers picking a five-wicket haul but was taken to the cleaners. To be honest, the Aussie bowlers were not consistent with their lines and lengths, which played straight into the hands of the hosts.
With more than two days remaining in the match, it was pretty evident that England were making it 2-2, but not to be with the persistent downpour. Spells from Mark Wood and Woakes reduced Australia to 108/4 at the brink of stumps on the third day. Though rain was predicted on the last two days, England got enough time on day 4 to close it out. Just 30 overs were allowed by rain. Labuschagne showed that he is still worth a number 3. Probably, this was the deciding innings that stood between England and the Ashes. A stunning hundred when the team needed it the most, and the Queensland batter showed full determination scoring an excellent 111 off 173 balls, denying England any advantage of that massive lead.
Despite Joe Root getting rid of the Australian number three, the rain hit hard and closed the day’s play. Nothing to mention about the fifth day as it was all rain creating massive puddles at Old Trafford. Australia were 214/5 with Mitchell Marsh (31 off 107) and Cameron Green (3 off 15) with a deficit of 61-run at stumps on day four and day five as well. Australia retain the urn!
Ducks and the Kangaroos were the only ones to carry smiles on their face! Hehe, Australia have just been lucky here, I suppose. It should have been 2-2 moving into the decider, but the Australians have been just lucky here to get away with this Test. Congratulations to them for retaining yet another Ashes. Happened ten years ago that England retained the Ashes in 2013, and it was courtesy of rain at Old Trafford as well, just that the roles have been exchanged for the current series!
England were on the front foot right from the start of this Test. Stokes put Australia into bat once he won the toss. A tremendous spell from Chris Woakes, reading 22.4-4-62-5, dismantled the visitors for 317 in just over a day’s play. There were plenty of starts from Australia, but none of them went on to make it a big one. Fifties from Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh, 40s from Steven Smith and Travis Head and 30s from Mitchell Starc and David Warner just kept the batting side going despite losing wickets at regular intervals.
In response, England came with a proper Bazball show, with Zak Crawley leading the way with an innings for ages. Apart from Ben Duckett, everyone who batted in the top seven amassed quality runs at a brisk pace. Crawley just brushed Australian bowlers away and amassed a daddy hundred, scoring 189 off 182 balls before unfortunately getting chopped on off Cameron Green. Moeen Ali scored a nice fifty, and Joe Root hammered runs at will, smashing 84 in no time, followed by half-centuries from Harry Brook and skipper Stokes.
England were at 474/6, and Jonny Bairstow was in charge. Maybe, Stokes could have declared at some point, but he allowed Bairstow to play aggressively towards his century. No doubt that a Test hundred is very special, but definitely country should have been put ahead given the weather around. Guess what? Jonny B was left stranded at 99 as James Anderson has found dead plumb in front, with England getting bundled out after posting a mammoth first-innings total of 592 and leading Australia by a huge margin of 275 runs. Josh Hazlewood was the pick of the bowlers picking a five-wicket haul but was taken to the cleaners. To be honest, the Aussie bowlers were not consistent with their lines and lengths, which played straight into the hands of the hosts.
With more than two days remaining in the match, it was pretty evident that England were making it 2-2, but not to be with the persistent downpour. Spells from Mark Wood and Woakes reduced Australia to 108/4 at the brink of stumps on the third day. Though rain was predicted on the last two days, England got enough time on day 4 to close it out. Just 30 overs were allowed by rain. Labuschagne showed that he is still worth a number 3. Probably, this was the deciding innings that stood between England and the Ashes. A stunning hundred when the team needed it the most, and the Queensland batter showed full determination scoring an excellent 111 off 173 balls, denying England any advantage of that massive lead.
Despite Joe Root getting rid of the Australian number three, the rain hit hard and closed the day’s play. Nothing to mention about the fifth day as it was all rain creating massive puddles at Old Trafford. Australia were 214/5 with Mitchell Marsh (31 off 107) and Cameron Green (3 off 15) with a deficit of 61-run at stumps on day four and day five as well. Australia retain the urn!
Akshaya: Declaration early on day one, or the late declaration in the fourth Test with the weather predicted? Ben Stokes has more to ponder, and it will keep hurting his mind when he goes to sleep, or maybe he won’t get it. No one has won a Test match after opting to bowl first in Old Trafford, and nature keeps the record intact.
10:06 PM IST, 17:36 Local Time: So, its time for post-match presentations...
Player of the Match: Zak Crawley
Zak Crawley: "It was pretty flat out there. We were in a good position. We played a good brand of cricket. But unfortunately, it wasn't to be. Onto the next one now.
We played well for the three days. We had a great chance to win the match. But rain had different ideas. We had some game on day four, but couldn't get over the line. Yeah, the rain had the final say and cost us this.
This should be my favourite innings. Just had a bit of luck and I rode on it pretty nicely. I had a feeling that a score was coming. I haven't been stuck on one end, I have taken a few more singles. Will take a lot of confidence and they have quality bowlers. I have so much to take for the next game.
Ben Duckett is a phenomenal player. I love batting with him. Approaches are quite different, but I want it to continue for a longer time. Every game is very important for us and it will be nice to end it 2-2."
We played well for the three days. We had a great chance to win the match. But rain had different ideas. We had some game on day four, but couldn't get over the line. Yeah, the rain had the final say and cost us this.
This should be my favourite innings. Just had a bit of luck and I rode on it pretty nicely. I had a feeling that a score was coming. I haven't been stuck on one end, I have taken a few more singles. Will take a lot of confidence and they have quality bowlers. I have so much to take for the next game.
Ben Duckett is a phenomenal player. I love batting with him. Approaches are quite different, but I want it to continue for a longer time. Every game is very important for us and it will be nice to end it 2-2."
Ben Stokes (England Captain): "Yes, we were at the wrong part of the weather. No I think we have played into the hands It was again a do-or-die game for us. Bowling out Australia for 320 and then getting 592, nothing better we could do. Australia is going to retain the urn, but we have got a lot to take forward from this.
Yeah, they have done unbelievable. The injury to Poppie [Ollie Pope], made us think about the structure of the team. I had pushed us to bring in Woakesy. We are very pleased with everyone's efforts. We have one more game left and we want to go with that one.
Look, I have been very much vocal. There are a few players who do all the best for us, the way Zak can bat at the top of the order, he can influence the game in a positive manner. We have seen him dominate the game what he did against Australia. This was players can do they get backed.
Yeah, absolute achievement. He and Jimmy has bee instrumental. Broady is being calling. He loves walking out there and he obviously loves playing against Australia. It's always good to have him in the team. We would love to finish off. We want the crowds to come out and watch us play."
Yeah, they have done unbelievable. The injury to Poppie [Ollie Pope], made us think about the structure of the team. I had pushed us to bring in Woakesy. We are very pleased with everyone's efforts. We have one more game left and we want to go with that one.
Look, I have been very much vocal. There are a few players who do all the best for us, the way Zak can bat at the top of the order, he can influence the game in a positive manner. We have seen him dominate the game what he did against Australia. This was players can do they get backed.
Yeah, absolute achievement. He and Jimmy has bee instrumental. Broady is being calling. He loves walking out there and he obviously loves playing against Australia. It's always good to have him in the team. We would love to finish off. We want the crowds to come out and watch us play."
Pat Cummins (Australia Captain): "Our preference is to come here and win, nice to retain here and something which we can be proud of. Yeah, the result is same as that of 2019 but the feeling is different. It's pretty similar squad as that of 2019 What happened today, it does not change the way look at things next week.
Probably, in the last year or two really since becoming captain. I've noticed this group, pretty similar group since the last few years. Special moment in the Oval and even special if we can win.
We all turned up pretty motivated. Yeah, it's tough. For the guys out there, they batted really well. We tried a few different players which did not turn out well. We will try our best, and in particular in a few executions. We will come next week and try to do better.
Probably, in the last year or two really since becoming captain. I've noticed this group, pretty similar group since the last few years. Special moment in the Oval and even special if we can win.
We all turned up pretty motivated. Yeah, it's tough. For the guys out there, they batted really well. We tried a few different players which did not turn out well. We will try our best, and in particular in a few executions. We will come next week and try to do better.
I haven't bowled many balls in between matches. It wasn't the best of me in this week. He was fantastic along with Marshy yesterday. I know how hard he works. He showed his class there. Yeah, that's what we wanted to do. Retaining is nice but fully focused on winning the series."
So rain had the final say at Old Trafford. A draw in this fourth Test means that Australia go with a lead of 2-1 to the Kennington Oval for the series decider. Bazball has been washed away by the persistent rain as Australian retain the urn again.
I am AkshayaKrishna Polya signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Arijit Kundu, who, alongside our scorer/analyst Bishal Mandal brought you all the live updates of this rain-drained final day of the Manchester Test. Stay tuned with us for matches across the globe. We will meet again. Until then, it's cheers!
I am AkshayaKrishna Polya signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Arijit Kundu, who, alongside our scorer/analyst Bishal Mandal brought you all the live updates of this rain-drained final day of the Manchester Test. Stay tuned with us for matches across the globe. We will meet again. Until then, it's cheers!