Persistent rain in Manchester on Sunday led to a frustrating conclusion to the fourth Ashes Test, as the entire day was washed out without a single ball being bowled. England, who had dominated the match and were hopeful of a series-levelling win, were denied the opportunity to claim the urn back from Australia.
With one Test match still remaining in the series, scheduled to begin at The Oval on Thursday, July 27, the result of the fourth Test ensures that Australia cannot lose the series and will retain the Ashes.
In the fourth Test, Australia managed to reach 214-5 in their second innings, trailing England’s massive first-innings total of 592. Marnus Labuschagne‘s brilliant century of 111 runs on Saturday played a crucial role in keeping the hosts at bay.
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England had earlier restricted Australia to 317 in their first innings before piling up an imposing total of 592. The remarkable total was largely driven by Zak Crawley‘s stunning knock of 189 and an unbeaten 99 from Jonny Bairstow.
Despite the disappointment of not winning the Ashes this time, England’s Test captain, Ben Stokes, expressed pride in his team’s performance. He remarked that their achievements have already made a significant impact on cricket in England. Stokes emphasized that their journey as a team was more important than any individual accolades.
Stokes stated, “I think what we’ve managed to become is a team that people will remember. As much as I would love to be an Ashes-winning captain, I want this to be a legacy team. Regardless of how the series ends up, people will always talk about us.”
Reflecting on their earlier missed opportunities in the first two Tests, Stokes pointed out a crucial dropped catch as his biggest regret. He had missed a chance of dismissing Nathan Lyon on the final day of the Edgbaston Test. Off-spinner Lyon eventually made a contribution with the bat in Australia’s two-wicket victory.
“The catch that I dropped off Nathan Lyon, honestly. That’s probably the biggest (regret),” Stokes revealed during a press interaction at Old Trafford.
As the series heads to its final Test, both teams will be eager to leave a lasting impact on the Ashes rivalry.
