Ashes 2023: Rain frustrates England’s bid for fourth Test win

The covers start to be removed by groundstaff after rain delays play on day four of the fourth Ashes cricket Test match between England and Australia at Old Trafford cricket ground in Manchester, north-west England. Pic/AFP

England were left waiting on the rain as their push for an Ashes series-levelling win against Australia in the fourth Test at Old Trafford on Saturday was delayed by bad weather.

This is a must-win match for England, currently 2-1 down with two to play, if they are to regain the Ashes.

They headed into the fourth day of five in a commanding position with Australia 113-4 in their second innings, still 162 runs behind England's imposing first-innings 592.

England are effectively six wickets away from a win that would square the series at 2-2 heading into next week's fifth Test at The Oval in London.

But persistent rain was still pelting down on Old Trafford, with the pitch and square fully covered, when play should have resumed at the scheduled start time of 11:00 am (10:00 GMT). There are now fears that rain on both Saturday and Sunday could scupper England's bid to draw level, with Old Trafford notorious for weather interruptions.

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