The Ashes 2023: England face Australia and weather to win Old Trafford Test

Fourth LV= Insurance Ashes Test, Emirates Old Trafford (day three of five): Australia 317 (Labuschagne 51, Marsh 51; Woakes 5-62) and 113-4 (Labuschagne 44; Wood 3-17) England 592 (Crawley 189, Bairstow 99; Hazlewood 5-126)Australia are 162 points adrift*Scorecard
Wood, who plays bowling with high pace and hostility, has trapped 3-17 to leave Australia 113-4 at the end of matchday three, a considerable 162 points adrift.
In all other circumstances England would be overwhelming favorites, but heavy rain is forecast for the weekend - particularly Saturday's fourth day.
The home team forged a strong position by racking up 592, their highest total in an Ashes home Test since 1985, to take a 275 lead in the first inning. ing 99 not out.
Bairstow added 66 in a tumultuous last-wicket partnership with James Anderson and was only denied a deserved hundred when Anderson fell below Cameron Green.
At 2-1 in the series and knowing that a draw is enough to keep the Ashes, Australia fight for weather and rain. They lost openers Usman Khawaja and David Warner to Wood and Chris Woakes respectively.
The headstrong duo Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith calmed the crowd before Wood caught Smith hooking and bouncing Travis Head.
Labuschagne remains unbeaten on 44, a hurdle as big as the weather in the home side's bid to follow up an unprecedented 2-0 England comeback in an Ashes series.
England assess weather conundrum
Ordinarily England would be on course for a series-level win but could face a race against time to win their first Ashes Test at this ground since 1981. If the weather forecast is to be believed, Saturday is catastrophic and Sunday cut short.
All of this would have factored into their approach with the bat on Friday. Their stated goal was to get as many runs as possible in the first innings, the theory being that this would be the quickest way to win and that it is easier to score runs in the first innings than in a tricky second innings chase. Their innings didn't end until around 3:00pm BST - later than most would have expected at the start of the day.

Sports Jul 22, 2023 0 39 Add to Reading List

The Ashes 2023: England face Australia and weather to win Old Trafford Test

Fourth LV= Insurance Ashes Test, Emirates Old Trafford (day three of five): Australia 317 (Labuschagne 51, Marsh 51; Woakes 5-62) and 113-4 (Labuschagne 44*; Wood 3-17) England 592 (Crawley 189, Bairstow 99; Hazlewood 5-126)Australia are 162 points adriftScorecard

Wood, who plays bowling with high pace and hostility, has trapped 3-17 to leave Australia 113-4 at the end of matchday three, a considerable 162 points adrift.

In all other circumstances England would be overwhelming favorites, but heavy rain is forecast for the weekend - particularly Saturday's fourth day.

The home team forged a strong position by racking up 592, their highest total in an Ashes home Test since 1985, to take a 275 lead in the first inning. ing 99 not out.

Bairstow added 66 in a tumultuous last-wicket partnership with James Anderson and was only denied a deserved hundred when Anderson fell below Cameron Green.

At 2-1 in the series and knowing that a draw is enough to keep the Ashes, Australia fight for weather and rain. They lost openers Usman Khawaja and David Warner to Wood and Chris Woakes respectively.

The headstrong duo Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith calmed the crowd before Wood caught Smith hooking and bouncing Travis Head.

Labuschagne remains unbeaten on 44, a hurdle as big as the weather in the home side's bid to follow up an unprecedented 2-0 England comeback in an Ashes series.

England assess weather conundrum

Ordinarily England would be on course for a series-level win but could face a race against time to win their first Ashes Test at this ground since 1981. If the weather forecast is to be believed, Saturday is catastrophic and Sunday cut short.

All of this would have factored into their approach with the bat on Friday. Their stated goal was to get as many runs as possible in the first innings, the theory being that this would be the quickest way to win and that it is easier to score runs in the first innings than in a tricky second innings chase. Their innings didn't end until around 3:00pm BST - later than most would have expected at the start of the day.