England’s thrilling Ashes comeback was devastatingly scuppered by heavy rain in Manchester as the fourth Test at Old Trafford ended in a frustrating draw, allowing Australia to retain the urn.
An England win would have turned next week’s fifth and final Test at The Oval into an Ashes decider but regular downpours blocked their push for victory on a deflating fifth day wash-out.
Ben Stokes’ side had Australia 214-5, trailing by 61, after a dominant display in the must-win Old Trafford Test.
But Australia benefited from poor weather over the weekend, with only 30 overs bowled on day four and the final day abandoned at 17:24 BST without a ball being bowled.
With one match remaining, Ashes holders Australia boast an unassailable 2-1 lead in the series and will retain the urn even if England win the final Test.
England were attempting to become just the second team in history to come from 2-0 down to win the Ashes after suffering narrow defeats in the first two Tests at Edgbaston and Lord’s.
The hosts kept the contest alive with a thrilling three-wicket win at Headingley and looked on course to level the series at Old Trafford before the weather intervened.
Australia failed to take advantage of favourable batting conditions on day one to be bowled out for 317, with Chris Woakes taking 5-62 and Stuart Broad reaching 600 Test wickets.
England then stunned the tourists with an astonishing batting display, piling on 592 in 107.4 overs as Zak Crawley smashed 189 from 182, Jonny Bairstow hit an unbeaten 99 and Joe Root, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali and Stokes all made fifties.
Faced with a huge first-innings deficit, Australia slipped to 214-5 despite Marnus Labuschagne’s second overseas century and Mitchell Marsh’s 31 not out from 107 balls.
Barring a miraculous turnaround, England would have secured an Ashes-levelling win and forced a fifth-Test decider but the weather came to Australia’s rescue.
Unable to win back the Ashes following their first draw under Brendon McCullum, England will attempt to galvanise themselves in time for The Oval and avoid a series defeat against the world Test champions.
Having successfully retained the urn, Pat Cummins’ side will now bid to become the first Australian team to win an Ashes series in England since 2001.
MORE : Marnus Labuschagne has mixed emotions as rain disrupts England’s Ashes comeback
MORE : Ben Stokes reacts to Jonny Bairstow dishing out Ashes batting masterclass
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