For the second consecutive tour of England, Australia have retained the Ashes urn after the series stands as 2-1 for Australia, following a draw in the 4th Ashes 2023 Test, in Manchester, courtesy of a washout of the entire Day 5.
Rain denied England the chance to push for a win on Days 4 and 5. England have been dominant at the Old Trafford but Australia escaped with the help of plenty of rain. Only 30 overs of play was possible on Day 4 on Saturday and not a single ball was bowled on Day 5 on Sunday.
Heading into Day 5, Australia were trailing by 61 runs in their second innings and had 5 wickets in hand. Without rain on the last two days, England would have had a good shot at victory, but the rain gods didn’t relent, especially on Day 5 when the showers opened up just as the players were getting ready to resume after Lunch after the first session was washed out. Persistent rain and wet outfield meant no play at all was possible on Day 5.
Having secured the Ashes Urn now, Pat Cummins and his Australian team will have a chance to win the Ashes series in England for the first time since 2001 when they play in the 5th and last Test at the Old Trafford.
As Australia retain the Ashes with rain helping them, plenty of stuff was said from the English media and former England players about Australia. Including Michael Vaughan who said the visitors were “timid, scared and petrified” and that iwas the “luckiest” ever for a team set to lose a Test.
“Australia were timid, scared and petrified of this England team all week in Manchester and played for rain. Australia were rattled: I can’t remember saying that before. They will know that only rain saved them. It ranks as one of the luckiest escapes I can remember,” Vaughan wrote in the Telegraph.
Aaron Finch trolls Michael Vaughan sarcastically
Former Australia skipper Aaron Finch took to Twitter to troll Michael Vaughan with a sarcastic tweet. Finch said that it were the Australians who brought the rain to Manchester.
“Apologies… Pat and the team had control over the weather,” Aaron Finch tweeted.
Apologies… Pat and the team had control over the weather 🥱🙄 https://t.co/7H6UlwRP0y
— Aaron Finch (@AaronFinch5) July 24, 2023
