Rain stops play in third Ashes Test by Andy Jalil

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Scorecard:	England v Australia
Event:	Australia in British Isles 2013

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DateLine: 4th August 2013

 

By Andy Jalil at Old Trafford.
In association with INVESTEC.

 

Andy Jalil at Old Trafford In association with INVESTEC © Pakistan Cricket Website

 

Manchester – Poor weather, for so long an absentee this summer, made its presence felt with bad light followed by rain causing an abandonment to the fourth day’s play late in the afternoon. Australia in their second innings were on 172 for seven when at 4.46pm local time the umpires decided the light was not good enough and with steady drizzle following, the announcement was made just under an hour later of no further play.

 

Going into the final day today with an overall lead of 331, Australia will in all probability declare overnight and hope they will have time to take ten wickets in 98 overs with a mandatory 15 to be bowled in the last hour. With the weather forecast suggesting some stoppage for rain there is now a possibility of a drawn match or indeed even a win for either side. With two Investec Tests down, only a victory will give Australia a chance of regaining the Ashes.

 

Australia began their second innings with a big advantage of 159 from the first knock and sent in David Warner to open with Chris Rogers with the intention of quick runs. After Stuart Broad had Rogers edge behind for 12, Warner and Usman Khawaja picked up runs rapidly in a 51-run stand. But with Warner’s dismissal for 41 when he pulled Tim Bresnan to mid-wicket for a fine running-in catch by Joe Root, the tourists were 74 for two.

 

Khawaja managed 24 before being bowled around his legs by Graeme Swann. With the next dismissal, four runs later, of Shane Watson whose lofted cut was held at third man, the tourists were 103 for four. Clarke and Steve Smith’s partnership, after their record stand in the first innings, didn’t last long this time and Smith, having hit 19 at a-run-a-ball was run out having been sent back attempting a second run.

 

James Anderson, without a wicket in the first innings on his home ground, finally got amongst the wickets taking the next two. Brad Haddin skied his drive to mid-off for 8 and twenty runs later Mitchell Starc was held at extra cover. Just then the weather intervened.

 

Earlier, it took Australia nearly twenty overs to claim the remaining three England wickets after play resumed on 294 for seven. There was quick scoring from England with 44 runs being added in the first half hour from nine overs before Stuart Broad, on 32, was beaten by the off spin from Nathan Lyon and edged a catch behind. Along with Matt Prior he put on 58 for the eighth wicket.

 

With some lusty hitting Broad had taken the England total to 338 and in one over Ryan Harris conceded 17 runs including three boundaries by Broad. With the second of those fours England had avoided the follow-on. Peter Siddle claimed the last two wickets to take his innings tally to four for 63. He had Graeme Swann caught behind from an inside edge for 11 and Prior, having been dropped at mid-wicket on 18, was held for 30 with the total on 368.

 

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
Copyright © 2013 Andy Jalil)