The fourth Test in the ongoing Ashes Series which was being played at Old Trafford in Manchester concluded in a draw after the last day of game play got washed out.
Throughout the game, England held their nerves tight in a must-win game against Australia. England held a commanding advantage and appeared certain to win. But because of the rain, Australia were spared and they were able to retain the Ashes. It is really disappointing to see a throat-hammering series get a test result in this way. The series is presently 2-1 with the last Test scheduled to take place at The Oval.
Post the match, Australia skipper Pat Cummins stated that although they have retained the Ashes urn, the task is far from finished because their primary goal is still to win the series not just to end up leveling the series 2-2.
In the first inning, where England batted, and scored a mammoth total of 592 runs on the board while following their Bazball strategy, with 6 of the top 7 hitters scoring 50 runs or more. Zak Crawley led his team in scoring with an impressive 189 runs off 182 balls, including 21 fours and 3 sixes. Jonny Bairstow remained unbeaten on 99.
After the game was formally suspended, Cummins acknowledged that it seemed “weird” to have retained the Ashes in a Test in which Australia had been utterly outplayed by England. However, he made some crucial remarks that England fans can’t help but agree with.
“It’s really nice to retain it,” Cummins said. “Obviously not in the circumstances we would have liked, but you look back at the last series and the first two games here and to get ourselves into this position … The rain might have helped us out, but great result.”
Piers Morgan, a British media personality, called it “gutting” that England was once again denied an Ashes victory while remembering the onset of rain in 2013, which allowed England to win the series under precisely similar conditions.
“Has there ever been a less-deserved retention of The Ashes?” Morgan tweeted. “From the Bairstow debacle to this rain-soaked fiasco, it’s an absolute farce that smirking Australia have ended up with the urn still in their hands. England comfortably the better side as this Test showed. Gutting.”
The Australian Skipper Pat Cummins in a post-match interview clearly stated:
“I don’t think there will be huge celebrations,” Cummins said. “Maybe a bit of a pat on the back for retaining the (Ashes).”
“There’s been a lot of work gone into putting us into a position where a draw does make us retain the Ashes. But there’s a Test match starting in three days, so that’s going to be our full focus.”
Asked if he felt like the side hadn’t achieved anything yet, Cummins said: “That’s fair. In some regards, whatever happened today wouldn’t really change how we look at next week. We want to win it to make sure we win it outright.”
The 5th Test will commence on July 27, at The Oval in London. Where Aussies will be looking further to win this match and come out as the dominating side in this Ashes 2023. But on the other side, England will be looking forward to winning this Test match and drawing the series 2-2 as unfortunately didn’t come to win the fourth Test because it got washed out due to rain at Old Trafford.
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