England’s victory charge in the fourth Test towards Australia was annoyed by the rain on Saturday, with no play potential earlier than lunch in a match they have to win to regain the Ashes.
The dwelling facet, who’ve dominated the sport at Old Trafford, are 2-1 down in the five-match collection.
Australia are 113-4 in their second innings, nonetheless 162 runs behind England, who posted an imposing 592 in their first knock.
Persistent rain in Manchester meant giant areas of the taking part in floor had been underneath cowl as knots of followers huddled underneath umbrellas.
Ground employees began mopping-up operations and eradicating a number of the covers shortly earlier than 1:00 pm (1200 GMT), with the umpires resulting from examine the pitch an hour later if there isn’t a additional rain.
But the forecast for the fourth day of the match on Saturday and Sunday’s last day is dire.
Looking to degree the collection
Ben Stokes’s males are determined to ram dwelling their benefit and degree the collection — they have to win it to regain the Ashes from holders Australia.
England restricted world Test champions Australia to 317 in their first innings earlier than racing to 592 all out, thanks largely to a wide ranging innings of 189 from Zak Crawley.
Fast bowler Mark Wood ripped by means of Australia’s high order on Friday with an outstanding burst of 3-17, dismissing Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith and Travis Head.
Jonny Bairstow, who was left stranded on 99 not out in England’s first innings, was sanguine in regards to the climate after Friday’s shut.
“The weather is the weather,” he stated.
“What comes will come and we can control what we have done so far in the game, which is score at a rate that puts us in a position that hopefully forces a result.”
Australia quick bowler Josh Hazlewood admitted the vacationers would welcome rain-enforced delays.
“We’re well behind and it’s easy to see that,” he stated.
England are bidding to develop into simply the second facet in Ashes historical past to win a collection from 2-0 down.
The Australia staff of 1936/37, impressed by batting nice Don Bradman, overturned that deficit to win 3-2.
The vacationers received a nail-biting first Test at Edgbaston by two wickets earlier than successful the second match at Lord’s by 43 runs.
England bounced again to win the third recreation of the collection at Headingley by three wickets.
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