 It was not the grand finale this riveting series deserved, after Australia retained the Ashes following a last day washout at Old Trafford. But cricket's major vulnerability is its lack of weatherproofing, something that needs to be examined as climate change threatens to rain on more of the game's big parades. Before that, let's consider the state of play. Sport is littered with lucky wins over deserving ones and this very much feels like a fortunate one for Pat Cummins' side – which makes the final match at the Kia Oval a vital determinant for both teams even if the main prize has gone. If the visitors prevail they will be the first Australian side to win a series here for 22 years, a result that will make them worthy holders of the urn. But if England win to level the series, they and the world will know (including Australia) that but for some rain in Manchester, the Ashes would have been regained from the improbable position of 0-2 down, something achieved just once in the last 140 years. Momentum is a word beloved of coaches and sports psychologists but it would be churlish not to think that England have it going into Thursday's fifth Test. Australia were being crushed as never before at Old Trafford on the back of England's impressive win at Headingley. It was utter carnage and I cannot recall a similar occasion when an Australia team, and let's be clear these are the World Test Champions, looked so hapless as 592 runs were racked up in 107.4 overs. They were not so much Baggy Green as Liz Truss's limp lettuce, an unusual and disorienting situation for them. There have been suggestions that Ben Stokes should have declared England's innings sooner on the basis of the poor weather forecasts, but losing most of the last two days to rain is pretty rare even in Manchester. Something of a mixed blessing for England has been the benign pitches so far ordered for the series. On the){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
It was not the grand finale this riveting series deserved, after Australia retained the Ashes following a last day washout at Old Trafford. But cricket’s major vulnerability is its lack of weatherproofing, something that needs to be examined as climate change threatens to rain on more of the game’s big parades.
Before that, let’s consider the state of play. Sport is littered with lucky wins over deserving ones and this very much feels like a fortunate one for Pat Cummins’ side – which makes the final match at the Kia Oval a vital determinant for both teams even if the main prize has gone.
If the visitors prevail they will be the first Australian side to win a series here for 22 years, a result that will make them worthy holders of the urn. But if England win to level the series, they and the world will know (including Australia) that but for some rain in Manchester, the Ashes would have been regained from the improbable position of 0-2 down, something achieved just once in the last 140 years.
Momentum is a word beloved of coaches and sports psychologists but it would be churlish not to think that England have it going into Thursday’s fifth Test. Australia were being crushed as never before at Old Trafford on the back of England’s impressive win at Headingley. It was utter carnage and I cannot recall a similar occasion when an Australia team, and let’s be clear these are the World Test Champions, looked so hapless as 592 runs were racked up in 107.4 overs. They were not so much Baggy Green as Liz Truss’s limp lettuce, an unusual and disorienting situation for them.