In a gripping Ashes series finale, the weather played a decisive role as Australia escaped with a draw on the final day, ultimately retaining the prestigious urn again. The match in Manchester was filled with four days of riveting action, and England was on the brink of levelling the series 2-2, but the rain had other plans, washing out the fifth-day action and denying England the victory they were so close to achieving.
England’s quest to restore parity in the series after suffering early defeats seemed promising after their triumph in the third Test at Headingley. The team showcased immense determination and skill, amassing their highest Ashes innings total on home soil since 1985, scoring an impressive 592 after bowling Australia out for 317.
However, a rain-hit fourth day saw Australia fighting back, with Marnus Labuschagne’s century leading their charge as they battled their way to 214 for five. England, however, remained in a favourable position, as they were yet to bat in the second innings and required just five more wickets to seal the victory.
With the final day holding immense potential for a thrilling finish, the hopes of an England win were dampened as rain persisted, washing out the entire day’s play. This turn of events rescued Australia from a possible defeat, allowing them to retain the Ashes series.
England lost the opportunity to level the series and end their eight-year wait to win the Ashes. The frustration of missing out on a potential victory was evident in the post-match press conference, where captain Ben Stokes faced a difficult question from an English reporter. He was asked whether going 0-2 down early in the series was a greater “disappointment” for the team than the drawn fourth Test. With a blank face and a stare, Stokes responded tersely, “No, not really,” before smirking at the reporter.
“It is a tough one to take. We managed to play over the first three days and getting on the wrong side of the weather is tough to take, but it is all part of the journey. Coming into the game, knowing what we needed to do, played into our hands a little bit. It was another do or die game for us. It will be tough to look back on but there is one more game to go and we’ll be trying to tie the series and a lot of pride to play for. We want to draw the series like in 2019,” said Stokes.
The drawn match in Manchester highlighted the unpredictability of cricket and the influence weather can have on the outcome of a game. While Australia celebrated retaining the Ashes, England was left contemplating what could have been, knowing that a few more deliveries on the final day could have turned the tide in their favour.
As the Ashes series concluded in a dramatic draw, cricket fans were left with anticipation and eagerness for future encounters between these arch-rivals.
