Match drawn
Australia 317 (Labuschagne 51, Marsh 51, Woakes 5-62) and 214 for 5 (Labuschagne 111) drew with England 592 (Crawley 189, Bairstow 99*, Root 84, Brook 61, Moeen 54, Stokes 51, Hazlewood 5-126)
Australia have retained the Ashes after escaping a fourth Test dominated by England with a rain-ruined draw. They will leave Manchester on Monday morning with a 2-1 lead, and have the opportunity to clinch a first series win in England since 2001 at The Oval next week.
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It's a matter of time
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Manchester la la la
24 Days of play Manchester has lost completely to rain in Test history - with two Tests abandoned. Source: Alison Mitchell, BBC
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Not much of a party
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While we wait for the inevitable...
Send us your #PoliteEnquiries via Twitter. Don't forget the hashtag!
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Mood
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It's still raining
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Radar watch
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Still raining
England's players are still kicking a football around on the outfield, but it's seriously damp out there, with lots of standing water on the covers. It looks increasingly unlikely that we'll get play this evening.
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The AccuUrn?
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1pm restart... or so we thought
No sooner do we hear news of a 1pm restart than the rain returns, with the groundstaff dragging the covers back on. Jonny Bairstow is out there doing some wicketkeeping drills with Jeetan Patel, but it looks like we're in for further delays.
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Early lunch taken
Lunch will be taken from 12.20-1pm. There's an inspection due at 12.15pm, but it looks unlikely that the ground will be playable before the end of the lunch break. The covers have been peeled back and for the first time today, the pitch is visible, with the hover-cover moving aside.
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Positive signs
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Play until 10pm?!
Joe Root has been doing the media rounds this morning, and has been speaking to the BBC's Test Match Special about the frustrations of losing overs across this week.
"There's a number of different ways you could look at it," Root said. "It doesn't get dark until 10 o'clock here in the summer. Why can't we just keep playing until we bowl the overs? There's been a lot of talk about over-rates and guys getting fined, but there's still opportunity to play because the light is still good enough.
"[There is] talk about Test cricket and trying to keep it as the pinnacle of the game. Well, if you're fining the best players for playing it with a slow over-rate, it's not going to encourage guys coming in or on the periphery to go down that route. There are so many different ways of trying to find opportunities of getting as much play in as possible. I feel like, at every opportunity, you should be trying to find ways of getting the game on.
"It's easy to say when you're in a position of strength like we are now, but just in general. You look at that Edgbaston Test: we went out and played in similar conditions, if not worse conditions, batted before the rain hit us, and ended up losing two wickets at the start of that second innings. But that's cricket.
"In England, it doesn't get dark until 10pm. Why not start earlier? Whatever it is, if you need to make overs up, instead of punishing teams for being slow on over-rates, can you find other ways of maximising play and finding chances of getting as much cricket in as possible? Why do you have to have hard and fast rules: why not play until the overs are done?"
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Push that inspection back...
It's raining again.
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Root: England 'will throw everything at it'
Joe Root has been speaking to Sky this morning: "This is a nice sign, isn't it? Hopefully we can get a little bit lucky, it can skirt round us and get some cricket in," he says. "We knew rain was a possibility later on in the game so it sort of mapped itself out for us, what we needed to do.
"I think we executed that pretty well and got ourselves into a really strong position. It would feel a little bit of a shame to not at least get the opportunity to get out there today and give ourselves a good chance to take those final wickets... If we get out there, we will throw everything at it as we've done all week and hopefully that'll be enough."
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The Bison plays prankster
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Broad: A rainy draw would be 'unjust'
England have made all the running in this fourth Test at Emirates Old Trafford, and according to Stuart Broad, there is a feeling in their dressing room that it would be "unjust" if Australia clinched a rain-ruined draw to retain the Ashes urn.
"We just need a bit of luck from the Manchester weather gods," Broad wrote. "Sitting in the changing room watching the rain fall on Saturday, there was a feeling it would be unjust if the weather had a decisive say because it’s been such an incredible few weeks to be a part of. It would be such a damp squib, such an unemotional way for a series between two great rivals to be defined.
"But Brendon McCullum has come up with a phrase this week to keep us calm. We were due to play a bit of golf on Tuesday and in the afternoon the forecast was horrendous, but he said to me: ‘Boss, we’re too lucky to get wet.’ Guess what. There was much less rain than we thought. Saturday lunchtime, he was lying down doing the crossword and said: ‘Boss, we’re too lucky for it to rain all day.’ He was right again. Now we just need another window to open to complete the job on Sunday."
Broad added that England feel as though they have had "the impetus" throughout the series, despite early results suggesting otherwise.
"I have never felt the momentum has left us in this series because ultimately we played a brilliant game at Edgbaston, although Australia came out on top," he wrote. "In our own minds, we felt we played all the cricket — we declared on day one, bowled them out and tried to set up a game to get a result. Yes, Australia got the first two results with victory at Lord’s too, but it didn’t feel like the impetus was with them, and Ben Stokes’s innings of 155 in the second Test galvanised us.
"Getting within 43 runs created a do-or-die scenario and from then on we knew we had to get things exactly right. At Headingley, we were great and the first few days here we were brilliant. If we can get to 2-2 it would set up the series just as I’d hoped it would. I said I would love to go to The Oval at 2-2, and I genuinely meant it."
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Delayed start
Morning all. The news from Emirates Old Trafford, an hour before the scheduled start, is positive from an England point of view: it's not raining. But there has been heavy rain overnight and there is plenty of standing water on the covers, so the start has been delayed pending an 11am inspection.
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And that's that, folks
As expected, no more play possible. Whether we get any tomorrow is very uncertain. Australia could escape here with a draw and retain the Ashes, but they worked hard today in a tough session and earned the right to take it to the final day.
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Still wet
Not much to update on weather-wise. It's dank out there. Feels like we won't be far away from a call off and tomorrow's forecast is very bad.
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Get your questions in
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Tea, day four: All eyes on the weather
Tea Australia 317 and 214 for 5 trail England 592 by 61 runs
Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green have got through to the interval but it was tough on a surface offering help for Moeen Ali and Joe Root. There was a huge shout last ball of the session for a catch at slip against Green and England reviewed again, but there was no inside edge before it looped off the pad. It's very gloomy so unlikely England will be able to bowl pace again. Nine overs until the new ball is available.
Here's Matt Roller with some thoughts
Ben Stokes looked incensed when Nitin Menon and Joel Wilson told him that the light was not good enough for him to bowl his seamers, but England’s spinners have made a vital breakthrough. Australia have scored briskly against Moeen Ali and Joe Root, adding 48 runs in the last 13 overs before tea, but Root also created three clear chances.
The first, with an old-fashioned arm ball, was edged past Zak Crawley at slip as Marnus Labuschagne pushed forwards with hard hands, but Labuschagne fell to him soon after while attempting to cut. Mitchell Marsh then groped forwards, inside-edging to Harry Brook at short leg who couldn’t cling onto a difficult chance, while Cameron Green has looked uncomfortable against spin as he has all series and survived a prolonged appeal and review on the stroke of tea.
Australia's deficit is now just 61. That is five fewer runs than Jonny Bairstow and James Anderson added for the 10th wicket yesterday, effectively vindicating England’s decision to bat on rather than declaring at the fall of the ninth wicket - but Stokes will need his offspinners to keep creating chances after the interval.
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Root strikes!
Huge moment! Joe Root was removed Marnus Labuschagne 10 minutes before tea. Labuschagne was aiming a cut, there was a touch of extra bounce and he got a top edge that was well held by Jonny Bairstow. It wasn't given on-field by Nitin Menon but England referred in an instant and Labuschagne knew he had hit it. Now, can England make that count? Root has caused problems since coming into the attack and has bowled better than Moeen Ali. And in the same over he could have had Mitchell Marsh caught at short leg but Harry Brook couldn't quite get his left hand to it.
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Labuschagne century
Marnus Labuschagne has scored his first Test century in 24 innings - his last coming against West Indies, in Adelaide, last December - and his first in England, as Australia continue to make good progress in the deficit after England were forced to bowl spin from both ends due to the light. Labuschagne twice skipped down the pitch to Joe Root and sent him over long-on, but had a scare on 93 when an outside edge against a quicker outswinger flew rapidly past Zak Crawley at slip. It's been an excellent innings from Labuschagne and it's come when Australia needed it most.
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Ball changed
England have looked oddly flat tonight, struggling to replicate the energy of yesterday's evening session, but they have been able to get the ball changed after the last one went out of shape. Chris Woakes has also returned to the field after another stint off - he won't be available to bowl for a little while. Still no spin yet today. It's murky out there and feels like more rain may not be far away. England have now been told it's too dark to bowl Mark Wood who Ben Stokes had just wanted to bring back on
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Who can spark England?
Under normal circumstances this partnership wouldn't be a major concern for England right now, but it's unlikely that time will be on their side despite the current gap in the rain. They need someone to replicate the intensity of last night when Mark Wood was racing in. Wood will, no doubt, have another burst in a bit but it can't be all on him. The ball is old now, too, so this could be hard work for England. Still 25 overs until the new one is available.
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Australia get through early exchanges
Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh have worked their way through the first part of the day without too many alarms, although Marsh wasn't too far from dragging Mark Wood into his stumps. There has been a huge amount of movement yet, that may be due to the ball running across a damp outfield.
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Labuschagne's second fifty
Marnus Labuschagne has gone to his second half-century of the match but has also taken a blow on the hand from a Mark Wood short ball which is now being checked from the physio. The England fans aren't happy, suspect they think it's time wasting, but it was a solid thump into the glove.
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Anderson starts
It's Jimmy Anderson from the Brian Statham End to get things underway. Depending on which radars you look at, there might be a two-hour window. Tomorrow still looks pretty bad.
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Updated timings
We are almost ready to rumble...
Afternoon session 14:45 - 17:00
Tea 17:00 - 17:20
Evening session 17:20 - 19:00
Extra 30 mins available to bowl the overs (19:30
59 overs to be bowled
Tea 17:00 - 17:20
Evening session 17:20 - 19:00
Extra 30 mins available to bowl the overs (19:30
59 overs to be bowled
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We are on...for now!
Play will start at 2.45pm if there's no more rain. Various radars suggest that could be touch and go. England are about to emerge for warm-ups. Fair to say there's only one side really keen to be playing.
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Considerable progress
Well, things have moved on. The rain stopped about half an hour ago and the groundstaff have been hard at work. A number of the covers have been removed. This is the gap that was emerging on the radar, but how long it is remains uncertain. But, from England's point of view, it's at least progress
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Australia talking points
Whether Australia escape Old Trafford or not, they are going to have some things to consider at The Oval. Yes, if this is a draw the Ashes are retained but they will need a much better performance in the final Test to reestablish their credentials as the better team in the series. Here's a few things they may need to consider
David Warner
Is two starts that aren’t converted more of an issue than falling cheaply twice as Warner did at Headingley? It remains very long shot that he will lose his spot in this series but it feels increasingly unlikely that he has a big finish in him for his Test career – that double hundred against South Africa is looking even more of an outlier. At Old Trafford it wasn’t Stuart Broad who did for him but Chris Woakes, in both innings. On the first day he edged behind (from over the wicket) and on the third he was left in two minds whether to play or leave, dragging the ball into his stumps. If he has a lean Test at The Oval it will raise the prospect of Australia’s selectors making the decision to move on at the start of the home season against Pakistan rather than waiting for the West Indies in January, after Warner’s stated retirement plan of the SCG Test at the start of that month.
Todd Murphy
Surely Australia can’t go into another Test without a frontline spinner? Their attack at Old Trafford has looked one-dimensional and Travis Head’s offspin was dispatched by England’s batters. That could happen to Murphy, too, but Australia will need to back their specialist spinner. So it’s a question of how it gets into the side. Unless Mitchell Marsh is suffering from more then the stiffness which kept him off the field yesterday, it would appear Cameron Green is the most vulnerable after he struggled in the first innings before falling to a borderline lbw decision against Woakes. However, the selectors are very keen to keep him in the side.
The three big quicks
Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins have suffered a plundering at Old Trafford: 392 runs conceded between them at 5.22. They have not become bad bowlers, of course, and the same three could easily line up at The Oval, but it will be worth pondering of a different combination might be worth a go. Perhaps the biggest question mark is around the workload on Cummins who is the only quick to have played all five Tests so far. Before the tour began he made it clear he believed he could play all six, but it could be pushing him to his limits. Starc brushed off his shoulder concern after landing heavily on the second day and Hazlewood bagged a five-wicket haul so none are easy to leave out. England have also dominated Scott Boland in this series so the selectors may be reluctant to bring him back. Michael Neser, who was added to the squad earlier in the tour, remains the one yet to be used and has an excellent record in county cricket.
Tactics
More broadly, perhaps it’s Australia’s tactics that need to come into focus. They set their stall out this series not to be dragged into playing England at their own game. You can argue it was successful in the first two Tests, albeit by a very narrow margin at Edgbaston, but cracks have emerged and at Old Trafford they have felt especially passive. Most of the moves Cummins made in the field, under huge pressure from England’s scoring rate, felt reactive rather than proactive.
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Is there hope (for England)?
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It's wet everywhere
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Australia have no concerns over Marsh
From AAP
Australia insist there are no concerns over Mitch Marsh's fitness after he became the second bowler in two days to spend time off the field at Old Trafford.
Marsh did not bowl at all for Australia on Friday, after spending the first 75 minutes on the sideline battling what team officials labelled general stiffness.
Footage has emerged of the 31-year-old wincing in pain after bowling a ball on the second day, prompting concerns over a more serious injury.
But Australia are confident that is not the case, in what may loom as crucial if Australia wish to retain him in their side for the fifth Test at The Oval next Thursday.
"There's no [issues], that I'm aware of," Josh Hazlewood said. "He's probably bowled quite a bit in the last two games. It's probably a quite a steep rise in his workload. So I'm assuming it's just, you know, general soreness from that.
"The more overs he bowls the better he gets so it's, it's good to get a nice clean run at it and hopefully better after this innings and it just keeps building."
Australia did receive good news on Friday, with Mitchell Starc able to resume bowling after falling hard on his shoulder on day four and leaving the field.
Starc's fitness is crucial to Australia's hopes of retaining the Ashes, given the first Ashes decider in 14 years could loom if the weather clears.
Hazlewood has so far been unable to play back-to-back Tests on a short turnaround on this tour, but declared before the fourth Test that he is hopeful of doing so this time around.
Cummins has already played five Tests on this tour and has endured a tough match in Manchester, but will almost certainly back up at The Oval after declaring his intentions of playing all six games.
Questions will be asked over whether spinner Todd Murphy should return to the team, potentially at the expense of Marsh or Cameron Green.
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England's tactics
It's very hard to pick holes in England's performance over the last three days, but with this bleak weather having been flagged a long way out, could they have declared earlier yesterday? They were 189 ahead at lunch.
Did England bat too long?
2.5K votesYes - they knew this rain was coming
No - the extra runs with valuable on try and win by an innings
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While we wait...
As the rain falls, here some pieces for you to read from overnight after another outstanding day for England.
Vithushan Ehantharajah writes on Jonny Bairstow and Mark Wood who produced a pair of spectacular performances
There was much to consider. How would you meld free-wheeling fun and cascading disaster-dom? What is the right balance to strike with sparkling entertainment and rallying against what could be the end of what we have in front of us? The pressure was in itself the reward; to know you engaged in a generational cultural event. Yet the inherent risk was the incorrect decision would only reveal itself once it had all played out. By stumps on day three, England were more than satisfied with theirs.
It began with Nolan-scale bombs from Jonny Bairstow followed by a happy-go-lucky protagonist in Mark Wood digging deep for raw truths Australia's top order could not handle. And as England rest on Friday evening still leading by 162 with six second innings wickets to take, they can be satisfied they made all the right calls. Even if the rain does scupper their hopes of keeping the Ashes alive for a decider at the Kia Oval, they have nailed every day of this fourth Test.
Meanwhile, Matt Roller looks into Steven Smith's series which has been well below his previous standards and continues a dip that has brought him back into the pack
England still celebrate his dismissals like he is the Smith of 2019, but the Smith of 2023 is a different, altogether more human cricketer. He is 34, closer to the end of his career than the start. He will not be back here in four years' time; he seems to have realised his own mortality.
Two months ago, Smith spoke about his bucket list, and the prospect of finally ticking off an away Ashes win. Whether or not Australia escape this Test with a draw, he only has one more week to make that happen.
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Rain watch
Hello everyone. Welcome to day four from Old Trafford. So far, the forecasters haven't got it wrong. It's raining steadily with plenty more to come. Depending on which radar you look at there is the chance of a window opening around lunch, but whether it's big enough to get beyond a bit of mopping up is doubtful. So it's watch and wait for now.
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Head goes, Australia four down
Mark Wood has produced a brilliant spell. After claiming Steven Smith he has now bounced out Travis Head who could only glove into the gully as he tried to get out of the way. Wood has changed the complexion of the series since that first spell at Headingley. Can England get two more tonight and buy themselves even more time?
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Wood does it again!
Mark Wood is having a huge impact. Having been sparingly used so far in this innings he has now removed Steven Smith for the second time in a game, with Smith gloving a short ball through to Jonny Bairstow. Australia are now 97 for 3 and England will eye a big push in the final 45 minutes of the day.
Barring Smith's hundred at Lord's he has not been his usual self in this series. England have bowled very well to him, with Wood leading the way in this match. The crowd is up and about; the closing stages of the day could be very lively.
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Wood's back
Can England's quickest bowler again make the breakthrough. It's a big pair to get through at the crease at the moment. The weather will do what it does over the next two days, but England would love to have Australia four down at the close. We'll lose overs again, but should get another 18-20 in tonight, depending how much Moeen Ali bowls.
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Warner's series
25.12 David Warner's average after eight innings of the series
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Smith survives
A potentially huge moment in this match. Steven Smith edged Chris Woakes to first slip where Joe Root took the low catch but did not celebrate at all, although indicated to the umpires he thought it was out. It went to the TV umpire, Kumar Dharmasena, who have after considerable rocking and rolling ruled that Root did not have his fingers under the ball. When England first saw the replays they started to celebrate, but Smith soon walked back to his crease, confident he was safe. We've seen a number of these this summer and it's another that will divide opinion. It shouldn't matter, but did Root's lack of a celebration cost him?
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Woakes gets Warner!
What a series Chris Woakes has had since coming into the side. Now he's removed David Warner for the second time in the match. He had just beaten Warner outside off with one nipping across him, then Warner played into his stumps as he appeared late on the shot. He had reached 28, which gave him 60 runs for the game. It fits neatly with his returns since 2021 where his Test average is 28. His clinging on for the finish line in Test cricket. Woakes, meanwhile, is now England's second-highest wicket-taker in the series.
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Tea, day three: Wood strikes
Australia 317 and 39 for 1 trail England 592 by 236 runs
England have made a pricless in road before tea with Mark Wood extracting Usman Khawaja in his first over. A lifting delivery outside off, although only clocking 85mph tickled the outside edge to Jonny Bairstow. It was given out on the field but Khawaja reviewed after talking to David Warner - the replay confirmed the thin edge. Until then the opening pair had looked solid, but Wood brings a different challenge and he gave Marnus Labuschagne a hurry up as well. Moeen Ali was also given an early bowl in the eighth over and found some turn, although was inconsistent.
Meanwhile, Sampath has sent some numbers that further illustrate the plunder felt by Australia's attack.
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Anyone googling the weather?
Here's what Google Trends shows from searches from the UK
And, is Australia praying for rain (this is the Trends line from Down Under)
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Brutal for the big three
5.22 The combined economy rate of Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins
Josh Hazlewood at least had five wickets to show for his efforts, but overall that was a hammering dished out to Australia's three frontline quicks.
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Bairstow 99 not out!
Jonny Bairstow has been left one-run short of a magnificent century when James Anderson was trapped lbw to end a mad period of play which extended England's lead to a huge 275. Bairstow plundered the tired Australia attack, peppering the leg side with pulled sixes, including a huge blow towards the new hotel, while he and Anderson stole numerous byes to Alex Carey to attempt to keep the strike with Bairstow.
On 98, Bairstow drove towards long-off and Anderson was ready to come back for a second, but Bairstow screamed for him not to. Next ball, Anderson went too far across to Cameron Green. It ended a horror innings in the field for Australia, including just the second time that Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood have conceded 100 in the same innings. Could England Bazball against Australia's big three? We've got the answer.
So now it's all eyes on England's attack and how many inroads they can make into Australia. Is all 10 realistic?
Meanwhile, here's another stat from Sampath: England's innings had a run rate of 5.49, the third highest for a 500-plus total in Test cricket. The top two are also by England in the last one year.
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Bairstow powers on
England haven't called a halt yet and Jonny Bairstow is now getting within striking range of a century which is an interesting factor Ben Stokes. It's the seventh time six England batters have scored 50-plus runs in the same Test innings. He's played very well and farmed the strike from Jimmy Anderson at No. 11, including sprinting a bye through to the Alex Carey which provided a neat link back to a certain previous event in this series. Anderson also nailed a crunching pull off Pat Cummins to sum up how things have gone for the Australia captain. The sun is currently out, but does Stokes know something about the weekend forecast that the rest of us don't?
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Lead over 200
There was a brief delay after lunch as a shower came across the ground, with a touch of added drama that the hover cover had broken down so the groundstaff had to haul a sheet out. They'll want to get that fixed before the real heavy stuff arrives tomorrow. Jonny Bairstow and Stuart Broad have taken the lead over 200 since then. Surely it won't be long before England are bowling.
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Lunch, day three: What next from England?
Lunch England 506 for 8 lead Australia 317 by 189 runs
A productive morning for England as they add 122 runs in just 24 overs, and at times it felt somewhat sedate which just goes to show the bar they have set. Mark Wood had his off stump uprooted by the last ball before the break from Josh Hazlewood who has had a good session to take his haul to four wickets, but Australia are now a long, long way behind. Jonny Bairstow found some fluency late in the session which may encourage Ben Stokes to keep batting a bit longer while he's out there, but either way England will want to get ball in hand soon.
Here's some thoughts from Vithushan Ehantharajah
A quiet session despite the fact Ben Stokes and Harry Brook reached their half-centuries, Chris Woakes pocketed the host’s first duck of the series, Mitchell Starc took a catch that the umpires inexplicably looked at for a few minutes and then celebrated by pretending to ground the ball and England score 122 for 4 in 24 overs.
They have also passed 500 in a home Ashes Test for the first time since 1985, which in turn led Australia to take the second new ball for the first time this series. The question, however, is when do England pull out? They have so far nailed the first half of this match, bowling Australia out and sitting on a first innings lead of 189 seven sessions in. Tomorrow’s mooted washout puts the onus on getting a sizeable go at Australia today, on a pitch that is starting to show some ropey bounce from time to time. There is some rain expected later today and while England can’t stop that - god knows they probably think they can - they could use the period when those clouds congregate above Emirates Old Trafford to prise a few out.
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New ball breaks through
For the first time in the series Australia have taken the new ball and Josh Hazlewood has made an inroad by having Harry Brook top-edging to long leg. Mitchell Starc took an excellently-judged catch inches inside the rope, and a few seconds later mimicked rubbing it along the ground in reference to the catch that was denied at Lord's. And now Chris Woakes has nicked behind first ball (Hazlewood was briefly on a hat-trick). Australia have done a reasonable job in ensuring England haven't run away with the scoring this morning although the lead is now hefty. We had one very brief shower earlier but the weather looks okay at the moment. Lunch time declaration?
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Brook joins the party
Harry Brook has now gone to his half-century as well although it's been a relatively sedate affair - he played carefully last night and the old ball has made it hard work this morning. But he did play one terrific lofted drive off Cameron Green over mid-on. It means five of England's top six batters have scored 50-plus runs in a Test innings for the first time since 2009. It is also a first for England in the Ashes since 1926. (Thanks to Sampath for the last nugget).
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Cummins gets one
It's been a tough innings for Australia's captain, but he won't end wicketless having got one through opposite number Ben Stokes. Cummins and Cameron Green have done a decent job in pulling in the scoring rate with the old ball, although these things are all relative.
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England do as they please
England are building their lead nicely, with Ben Stokes bring up his fifty off 72 balls. Pat Cummins has gone on the full retreat with his field, at times having just a lone fielder inside what would be the limited-overs circle. They have also, so far, opted against taking the second new ball which is not entirely a surprise given the hardness of it would likely aid England. But it's a sign that wicket-taking is not top of their list. Meanwhile, this puts some context on how quickly England have scored: never have Australia conceded a higher RPO (as it stands) in an innings of at least 80 overs.
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Well, we have our answer
England's approach is already clear. They are getting a move on (not that they weren't before, of course). Ben Stokes has already flayed a couple of boundaries while he and Harry Brook have run hard between the wickets. In fact, Stokes would have been run out if Alex Carey had gathered a strong return from sub fielder Michael Neser at the stumps. Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc has started the day with the ball so that shoulder looks okay
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Moeen on how England will play it
Moeen Ali, who made an excellent half-century yesterday, has been speaking to Test Match Special this morning and outlined what England will be looking for with them hoping for at least another 100 runs.
"The wicket has started to go down... it is a bit up and down," he said. "I felt like we bowled really well on that wicket. I wouldn't want to be facing our bowlers too much on that wicket. Any sort of lead from here would be great but if we can get another 120-130 runs, that would be awesome.
"I think we can score pretty quickly. Initially it won't be as quick because the ball is a bit soft, and it depends on how they bowl. We're going to have to score at a decent rate which we have been doing anyway and naturally we do. But I also feel like there's a great chance of bowling them out today.
"I know it's a big shout, but there is a good chance because of the overhead conditions and the rain. We're going to have to be aggressive with bat and ball today."
And he firmly believed England could win in a hurry. "Great chance of bowling them out today," he said.
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The boys are back...
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Australia defend spin decision
Australia's non-selection of Todd Murphy was always going to be a talking point given it was the first time in 11 years they had gone without a specialist spinner. Without doubt Nathan Lyon would have played if he'd been fit. Travis Head came on in the 23rd and went at eight an over in his six overs.
"We felt like on this surface, against this opponent, that spin wouldn't play a huge part and we're yet to see that," head coach Andrew McDonald told the BBC.
"I know Moeen took a wicket in the first innings, but we'll never know what it would've looked like with a spinner today.We went with a different attack and we've got to focus on the bowlers we've got."
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England have to make today count
Welcome to day three from Old Trafford. You sense if England are to make the most of their fantastic position that they will have to go a long way towards winning today. The forecast for tomorrow is awful and Sunday not great. But, thanks to Zak Crawley, they have a chance to making big strides today.
What should England do today?
614 votesHave a quick dash and declare before lunch
Declare straightaway and get bowling
Bat as long as they can and get a huge lead
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Stumps, day two: England in control
England 384 for 4 lead Australia 317 by 67 runs
It was a relatively quite end to the end as Harry Brook and Ben Stokes played through to the close to ensure they are there to pick things up in the morning. England are in a very strong position and you expect it won't be long into the third day before they have a bowl. So far, it's go almost perfectly to plan for the home side. Now, will the weather play ball for them?
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Starc concerns
A significant scare just now for Australia with Mitchell Starc landing heavily on his left shoulder as he dived to stop a drive at mid-on from Harry Brook. He stayed down for a moment before trying to shake it off, but left the field with the physio and doctor. Starc had earlier seemingly been troubled by a left leg problem although continued to bowl.
UPDATE: Starc has returned to the field two overs later, so promising signs for Australia
ANOTHER UPDATE: Starc has left the field again. He chased a ball to the boundary and was reluctant to throw it back with his left arm
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Root done by a grubber
Well, this is interesting. Joe Root's superb innings has been ended short of a century by a delivery from Josh Hazlewood that barely got above ankle height and left Root little he could do. Ben Stokes then received one which reared by short of a length and smashed into his shoulder. Could this surface start playing some tricks? For all the carnage of today, there's still a good chance England will be batting last to try and win the game.
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Crawley falls
Zak Crawley gets handshakes from several Australian players and a standing ovation from the Emirates Old Trafford crowd as he walks off, with 189 off 182 to his name. His phenomenal innings comes to an end as he bottom-edges Cameron Green's round-the-wicket bumper onto his own stumps, with Harry Brook walking out at No. 5 at the drinks break.
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England lead!
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Crawley creams Marsh through cover, then swipes him effortlessly over wide long-on for six to take England into the lead inside 55 overs. This has been a ridiculous, giddy afternoon in the Manchester sunshine.
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300 up
The deficit is just 17 as Crawley and Root scamper back for a second, bringing up 300 for England. The Barmy Army trumpeter is playing The Great Escape again, and from 2-0 down, their route to a series win is becoming more and more clear.
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Crawley goes past Khawaja
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Crawley 150
Just the 152 balls for Crawley to become just the second batter in the series, after Ben Stokes at Lord's, to reach 150 in an innings. It's a trademark straight drive, past mid-off right hand, which gets him there, and the deficit is under 50.
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Root reaches 50
And he gets there reverse-scooping Cummins over the cordon for four! An extraordinary innings, bringing up his half-century off just 45 balls. Australia have clawed things back just a little after tea, but have still conceded 21 runs in five overs this session - which is a cruise by usual standards.
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It never rains...
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Are Australia rattled?
Andrew McGlashan: For the first two Tests, Australia found ways to temper Bazball. Things when wrong at Headingley when they allowed England to flay 95 in 10 overs on the second day and then chase down a target a five-an-over, but that did not have the feeling of the second session at Old Trafford.
For two hours they looked shell-shocked and rudderless. Pat Cummins has probably not had a worse day as captain: it started with being dismissed first ball of the morning, he has dropped a catch, conceded more than six an over and has been unable to settle on a plan in the field.
Travis Head was introduced in the 23rd over (remember, Australia don’t have a frontline spinner) and Mitchell Marsh, who dismissed Zak Crawley twice at Headingley, did not bowl to him until he had 112. The pitch is flat and England’s canter reinforces how wasteful Australia were yesterday. They can claw it back, but that day of rain forecast on Saturday may be something they need.
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Tea: England 239 for 2 (trail by 78)
178 Runs England scored in the afternoon session - at 7.12 runs per over
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Crawley on top
Crawley has Travis Head (314) in his sights, and isn't far behind Usman Khawaja (359) either... here's the full list.
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Marsh comes on
2 Times Mitchell Marsh dismissed Zak Crawley at Headingley
Mitchell Marsh is - finally - into the attack, to bowl the 36th over of the innings. He got Crawley in both innings at Headingley, so it seems bizarre that he hasn't bowled a ball to him until he's on 112*.
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100 off 93 balls!
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Drinks
6.92 Runs per over since lunch: England have added 90 for 1 in 13 overs
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Moeen falls!
A brilliant diving catch from Usman Khawaja at short midwicket accounts for Moeen and breaks the stand, moments after Pat Cummins put him down in the same position at the other end. Australia returned to the short-ball ploy which has often worked against Moeen, and even though he got plenty of this one from Starc, it's not enough to beat the sprawling Khawaja, in tight.
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50 for Moeen
Moeen Ali swipes a full toss over mid-on to reach 49, then mishits Head in the same direction to bring up his half-century - only his second in Tests at No. 3. He might well have been out if Pat Cummins had picked up the ball, but he lost the ball in the backdrop of the hotel at the James Anderson End and it plugged tamely at mid-on instead.
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Crawley tucks in
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Travis Head, Australia's main spin option, is into the attack after just 22 overs and his first two balls are nailed by Crawley. He gets low to reverse-sweep the first through point - bringing up 50 - then drops down to slog-sweep over midwicket.
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Expensive Aussies
27 Maidens Australia have bowled in this series so far
As Andrew McGlashan points out, this is by the fewest number of maidens that Australia have bowled in a series of 4+ Tests - and seems likely to stay that way.
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Crawley resumes
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Back-to-back boundaries for Zak Crawley in Cameron Green's second over of the afternoon session: the first slashed over gully with no control, the second drilled through mid-off with precision.
This partnership, for England's second wicket, is already the highest of the match at an unbroken 74. England are motoring.
Lunch: England 61 for 1 (trail by 256)
Andrew McGlashan: Australia would have hoped for a bit more from that morning session. The last two wickets were only able to add 18 – and only that many because of a borderline no-ball from Chris Woakes – and they’ve claimed just one early wicket in England’s reply.
They have bowled pretty well, however, with Josh Hazlewood unfortunate not find some success in his opening spell from the Jimmy Anderson End. Cameron Green thought he’d broken through in his first over when Zak Crawley was given lbw but the DRS showed it was sliding down the leg side. As with yesterday it looks a good day for batting. Can England cash in where, largely, Australia missed out?
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Moeen does the double
Moeen Ali's new role at No. 3 is a makeshift solution for England in the absence of Ollie Pope, but it has arguably already come off. His promotion means that Harry Brook will walk in some time after lunch, rather than in the third over, and he has started to play a few shots after a nervy start.
He's just become the 16th man, and fourth Englishman, to complete 3,000 Test runs and 200 Test wickets - and as Ali Martin from the Guardian points out, he has got there in two fewer Tests than it took Andrew Flintoff.
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Crawley survives
Zak Crawley is given out lbw by Joel Wilson, hit above the knee roll by Cameron Green. But he survives on review, with ball-tracking projecting that the ball would have missed the top of leg stump.
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Where's Cummins?
Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood shared the new ball for Australia and Pat Cummins still hasn't brought himself on, 11 overs into the innings. Ricky Ponting, on Sky's commentary, is surprised: "The fact that he hasn't taken the new ball, I think he's taken too long before putting himself into the attack. I think Cummins has got to get himself into the attack and quickly."
Cummins has only opened the bowling in just over half (55.1%) of innings in his Test career, but often comes into the attack before the end of the 10th over when he is used as first change. He is finally coming onto bowl the 12th over, from the James Anderson End.
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Flashy Zak
Percentage of Zak Crawley's first 23 balls that he has been 'in control', according to ESPNcricinfo's ball-by-ball data
Zak Crawley is living a charmed life, repeatedly playing and missing at balls outside his off stump. He has made his way to 17* and won't be too fussed so long as he makes it through the next half-hour, but this has been a sketchy start.
Starc strikes
Australia have an early wicket! Mitchell Starc gets one to shape away in the channel just outside off stump, and Ben Duckett is pushing forwards tentatively. His outside edge flies through to Carey, who takes a simple catch, and England are one down in the third over. Out walks Moeen Ali...
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Experienced England
Sampath Bandarupalli: England's batting line-up for this game is only the second in Test cricket where ten players have more than 1,000 Test runs. ICC World XI in the 2005 Super Test against Australia was the first such team. Australia's could be the third if Alex Carey scores another 35 runs in the second innings.
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Starc loves Manchester
Andrew McGlashan: That’s useful runs from Mitchell Starc at a ground where he has enjoyed batting. It’s the second time on this tour he has contributed substantially after his 41 in the second innings of the World Test Championship final against India.
Australia’s lower-order runs were a talking point before the series, but there has been an improvement - although they were dismissed cheaply at Headingley. Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon secured victory at Edgbaston with their partnership and now Starc has lifted them over 300 after they had slipped to 255 for 7 yesterday afternoon.
But that’s still below where they should have been from 183 for 3 and with so many top-order batters getting starts.
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Woakes has five!
It took longer than it might have, but Chris Woakes has his fifth Test five-for and his first in the Ashes.
Hazlewood fends at a back-of-a-length ball from around the wicket and gets a thick outside edge to Duckett at third slip - and Woakes celebrates by pointing towards the crease, as if to confirm that his front foot is a long way behind it this time. He holds the ball aloft as he leads England off, and Australia are bowled out for 317.
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Woakes oversteps
Woakes celebrates a five-wicket haul after having Hazlewood caught at second slip - but Kumar Dharmasena, the TV umpire, adjudges that he has overstepped! It's a marginal call...
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First ball, first wicket
James Anderson went wicketless from the James Anderson End for the whole of the first day of this Test, but he has a wicket with the first ball of the second. It's an innocuous ball, a half-volley outside off stump, but Pat Cummins has chipped it straight to Stokes at cover-point and Australia are 299 for 9.
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Let's play
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Woakes: It was just about being patient
Chris Woakes was England's best bowler yesterday but, characteristically, his four-wicket haul was overshadowed by Stuart Broad reaching a landmark. He has been speaking to Sky Sports this morning:
"I've been a part of the squad for the start of the series and was just waiting patiently, desperate to get a go," he said. "Naturally you're always pleased with wickets when it's top-order players, so I'm pleased with the scalps I've picked up. The wicket feels pretty good... we were pretty pleased with the day overall yesterday.
"It was just a matter of being patient. You would go through periods where it did feel the ball wasn't doing too much, and then there would just be an over. We got the ball in decent condition, and it was just about making the most of those opportunities when the ball was doing a little bit more.
"I said to Jimmy, there were times when it felt like I wasn't going to get a wicket for a week. But then all of a sudden, I had that one over where I picked up two scalps and you feel on top again.
"Stokesy is really clear. His messaging is, always think of a way you're going to get a wicket. Not just trying to hang it outside off and hold the run rate. It's certainly helped me always try and think on that positive side of thing, thinking about how to take wickets, and obviously the plan changes to certain players as well.
"It's easy to get too far ahead of yourself in Test cricket. If you don't play the situation in front of you, you can find yourself out of the Test match. When it comes to batting, we'll obviously be positive but play what's in front of us."
Another clear start
Stumps, day one
Australia 299 for 8
That feels a very even opening day after Australia were asked to bat. That late wicket of Alex Carey was very handy for England. They will want to wrap up the tail quickly in the morning and set about batting at a good rate. The visitors may feel they missed a chance to take firm control of the day.
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Australia dig in
The game has gone a little quiet since that double-wicket over by Chris Woakes. Alex Carey and Mitchell Starc have played watchfully to add useful runs. The second new ball is approach and you'd imagine England will have a dart with it before the close. Although it's been a day where Australia's top order did not build on a series of starts they remain on track for 300+.
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THAT catch
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Woakes Culture
Jimmy Anderson returns for what might be his last appearance at his home ground, Stuart Broad takes his 600th Test wicket. But the real story is Chris Woakes, who continues an exceptional return to the side with three wickets on day one, all earned through his own nous rather than batter error. And most neat of all was a sensational take from Jonny Bairstow who has looked shaky behind the stumps. The reaction from his teammates said it all.
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Another Marsh fifty against England..
Another half-century for Mitchell Marsh against England. The last three times he has reached this point against Australia's bitter rivals he has converted it to three figures. All three of his Test hundreds have come against England and is currently averaging 55.09 against them. It is an absurd record, and one Cameron Green would not mind as he walks off having been pinned LBW by Chris Woakes.
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Marn oh Marn
It's been a weird old series for Marnus Labuschagne. After his lean game at Edgbaston, when he was twice done by Stuart Broad, he has not failed to reach 20 but has yet to convert and today will be as frustrating as any given the hard work that had been, sunny skies and a pretty flat pitch. Having ended his longest stretch in Test cricket without a fifty – eight innings – he then basically missed a straight delivery from Moeen Ali. It added to a collection of curious dismissals: he carved a long hop to point against Jimmy Anderson at Lord’s and then slog-swept Moeen Ali to deep midwicket at Headingley. One thing is certain, too – his walk off is not getting any faster.
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Broad has 600
From the end named after his great mate and long-time bowling partner, Stuart Broad has claimed his 600th Test wicket, bouncing out Travis Head moments after tea. Joe Root taking an excellent catch at long leg. Broad is just the fifth bowler to reach the landmark. England are now well into Australia's middle order, but they bat deep in this game with Alex Carey at No. 8
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It's happened again...
Marnus gone. We're not doing this on purpose.
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Marnus ticking
62 Balls between Marnus' 4th and 5th boundary
It's not been a particularly eye-catching innings from Marnus Labuschange, and that is absolutely fine, particularly given how easily he seems to be playing Mark Wood compared to everyone else. But he has started to play his shots and now has a first half-century of the series. The fifth boundary - Broad timed crisply through midwicket - broke a streak of 20 deliveries without a run, before he chopped Woakes away for his sixth.
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Steward Broad
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Wood strikes!
James Anderson almost didn't make the first ball of the afternoon session. Everyone else was in position before he charged on into his position at short-cover. Neither he nor Stuart Broad were required for the start as Chris Woakes and Mark Wood began after the break. It's proved an inspired move, as Wood removes Smith LBW on review. All told, it was a pretty quiet start from both sides, with the first boundary – Smith cutting Wood - arriving a ball before the dismissal. England are now up and about in the field and have pushed the button on the short-ball ploy with Travis Head now in the middle.
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LUNCH Australia 107/2 (Smith 33*, Labuschagne 29*)
Andrew McGlashan: Australia will be pretty happy with that first session having been put into bat even though they lost both openers. There was a bit of movement on offer for the quicks but overall it’s looked a good pitch for batting.
Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith have settled in, although Labuschagne has still not looked entirely secure. Smith could have been caught first ball when he hooked Chris Woakes but Mark Wood was in off the boundary at long leg. Moeen Ali, the one frontline spinner on show in this match, went for 12 in his first over as Smith showed immediate aggression against him. Smith is desperate to make up for his lacklustre showing in Leeds.
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Mark Wood's 1st spell: 4-1-21-0
A thought from Andrew McGlashan: It will be interesting to see if that's it for Wood's spell. Before the match, Ben Stokes said he hoped to keep to the short, sharp bursts of the Headingley first innings...
"The way I used Woody in the first innings is something we’ll look to do again. Had to use him a little differently [after that] asundefined we lost Robbo last week so had to bowl him a bit more than I would have liked to...be nice to be able to use Woody in short, sharp bursts as I’d originally planned to at Headingley."
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Warner goes for 32
Sorry David, that's on us...
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Warn-ing shot
Cracking first hour for David Warner, with 32 of Australia's 57 so far. Yes, there have been a few iffy moments: Jimmy Anderson got one between bat and pad that someone missed the stumps, he cut past his stumps at the end of Chris Woakes' first over and has twitched at a few outside off. But from striking the first ball of the day for four, he's continued with that intent.
England have bowled a few different lengths to him, and all of them have been attacked. Perhaps most impressive was the short-arm whip off Woakes through square leg. No real pace off the pitch, but Warner timed it superbly. Seems to have found some semblance of touch here at a ground where he only averages 11.50.
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Peculiar lack of atmosphere at the minute. Emirates Old Trafford generally has a good vibe, but it seems to be a tad docile. No doubt the Party Stand - the metallic monstrosity you'll have seen photos of on social media - will liven up in a bit. But other than the Broad dismissal, they've not really been up to much. No doubt the introduction of Chris Woakes to replace Broad will liven them up...
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Jimmy from the Jimmy End
Interesting nugget above from Mr BBC. Of course, part of that is because David Warner faced up for the first ball and, thus, Stuart Broad was contractually obliged to bowl at him. The first ball was pumped away through the covers for four. Maybe too early to say, but the pitch looks... fine. No real movement to speak of, as the sun comes out for the first time today.
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No spin, no problem?
Confused by Australia going in without a twirler? Here's Andrew McGlashan with some context:
The last time it happened was 2011-12 against India in Perth when the pace attack was Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Mitchell Starc and Ryan Harris. In England, the last occasion was the 2009 Test at The Oval when Nathan Hauritz was omitted and Marcus North was the spinner. So it’s certainly an outlier for them, and there’s no doubt Nathan Lyon would have played if he’d been fit. And, of course, it comes on the ground where Shane Warne produced his Ball of the Century 30 years ago. Warne loved the bounce as well as the turn the surface offered. However, in the last 10 years the ground has the second-highest average of spinners among England’s men’s Test venues.
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England win the toss and bowl
5 TOSSES OUT OF 5 THAT BEN STOKES HAS WON THIS SUMMER
England will bowl first here in Manchester. The sun poked through a moment ago but the clouds that are about have a comforting gloom from an English perspective. Aside from that one period on the afternoon of day three of the first Test at Edgbaston, Australia's batters have had to bat in the worse conditions.
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Here we go again!
Hello everyone and welcome to our coverage of the fourth Test from Old Trafford. The series stands at 2-1, so it remains must-win for England if they want to keep their Ashes hopes alive. Australia know a draw will be enough here to retain the urn. The two XIs have been confirmed; Jimmy Anderson is in for England on his home ground while Australia have brought back Josh Hazlewood and Cameron Green, meaning no frontline spinner. Vithushan Ehantharajah will be with you shortly, but here's some pre-match reading: Andrew Miller sets the scene in the preview, Vish writes on Anderson and Andrew McGlashan looks at Australia's mis-firing greats.
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