The Ashes series witnesses Moeen Ali and Harry Brook among the trio who have batted at number three for England
Fourth LV Insurance Ashes Test: England faces Australia
Location: Emirates Old Trafford Date: Wednesday, 19 July Time: 11:00 BST
Broadcast: Live text updates and in-play video highlights on the Sport News Center website & app, and BBC Test Match Special on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra. Catch the daily highlights of Today at the Test on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer from 19:00 BST.

Take a deep breath. Let’s get back to it.

The gap following the conclusion of the third Ashes Test marks the longest break from Test cricket in this country since June 1st. Even during this hiatus, we had the women’s Ashes to keep us on edge and distract from work.

Now, the men from England and Australia make their way to Manchester for the thrilling fourth segment of what could potentially be the most exciting Ashes series ever.

The previous three matches have all been nail-biting. Defining a ‘close’ Test as a win by three wickets or less, or fewer than 50 runs, we’ve seen 25 such games in 340 Ashes matches before this summer. This series alone has already produced three.

Add to this mix, Zak Crawley’s series opener four, Marylebone Cricket Club members morphing into England fanatics, and a controversy over Alex Carey’s new hairstyle.

Considering the twists thus far, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Chris Woakes getting ousted from a curry house in Rusholme, Joe Root sporting a new tattoo from Affleck’s Palace, or Usman Khawaja signing for Manchester City, in his quest to play for Pep Guardiola.

England’s narrow win at Headingley will be inconsequential unless they can follow it up with a victory at Old Trafford. They find themselves again in the last chance saloon, facing a dire need to pull a rabbit out of the hat.

The extraordinary achievement of an England team reversing a 2-0 deficit to win the Ashes is within reach, but a 4-1 loss is equally plausible.

Short fourth Test could benefit England – Stokes

The current situation mirrors four years ago, when Australia rebounded from a bitter defeat in Leeds to triumph here and secure the urn.

Then, they were compelled to revisit Ben Stokes’ extraordinary performance by coach Justin Langer to instantly dispel any lingering ghosts. This time, they used the gap to disperse across Europe. There’s a niggling sense that this break, and interruption in England’s rhythm, might benefit the Australians more than the hosts.

This is the last Ashes Test to be held north of Nottingham for eight years – neither Headingley nor Old Trafford are on the roster for the 2027 series, a decision that has left England’s captain Stokes “devastated”.

But while Headingley has been a happy hunting ground for England, Old Trafford has been less so. Their last Ashes Test victory in Manchester was back in 1981 – a more recent win took place at the Gabba.

In their bid to rewrite this undesirable record, they’ve brought back local hero and record wicket-taker James Anderson, although even he has a record to amend. Astonishingly, Anderson hasn’t taken a Test five-for at Old Trafford and hasn’t been part of a winning Ashes Test side in eight years.

The hope lies in the conditions being more suited to Anderson’s style than the unresponsive wickets at Edgbaston and Lord’s, which limited his effectiveness.

There’s likely to be some speed in the wicket, though probably less than Headingley, and an ominous weather forecast promises advantageous overhead conditions. The looming threat of rain in Manchester adds an extra layer of unpredictability and potential drama.

Stokes, known for his unorthodox ideas, suggests a rain-curtailed match could work in England’s favour, arguing they excel when controlling the pace of the game.

Last summer, against a weaker South African team, England claimed victory in the final Test at The Oval in just over two days, despite one day being rained off and another cancelled due to the Queen’s demise.

“Alterations to our tactical decisions might be necessary,” stated Stokes. “If we’re set to lose even 100 overs in the match, we may need to accelerate the game more than usual.”

The Ashes 2023: Ben Stokes claims ‘no conflict’ with James Anderson as storm clouds gather

While England seems to be making peace with the rain, Australia appears to be caught in a maelstrom that led to the exclusion of frontline spinner Todd Murphy.

Murphy, who replaced the injured Nathan Lyon at Headingley, delivered only two overs in England’s second innings and has been replaced by the now fit all-rounder Cameron Green.

Had Lyon been available, his place wouldn’t have been questioned. However, as captain Pat Cummins attempted to rationalize the debate over Murphy’s position, he admitted it was “not a like-for-like comparison”.

Cummins was positioned just beside the Old Trafford honours board, which displays that spinners have taken nine out of the last 14 Test five-fors here. Not since 2012 has Australia entered a Test without a specialist spinner.

The inclusion of Green and fellow all-rounder Mitchell Marsh in the lineup offers Australia significant batting depth. Mitchell Starc at nine and Cummins himself at 10 adds a hurdle for England to claim the 20 wickets they require, especially in a rain-affected match.

However, with Australia merely needing a draw to at least keep the Ashes, this move seems slightly conservative.

If Australia thought a seam bowler would be more beneficial than Murphy, why not opt for a frontline choice like Michael Neser, who himself is capable of scoring centuries, as proven in his last two first-class matches for Glamorgan?

Any signs of caution or uncertainty from Australia could offer England an opportunity, despite their team appearing slightly cobbled together.

Their selected lineup comprises two of the top three batsmen with a Test average below 30, a wicketkeeper more prone to catching a chill than a ball, and a bowling squad too old to qualify for affordable life insurance.

Moeen Ali’s ongoing presence at number three adds a twist to a remarkable summer that saw him emerge from Test retirement, miss a day of practice to receive his OBE, face reprimand for using a drying agent on his hand, get dropped, and recover from a finger injury with a ‘magical’ honey gel sent by an England supporter.

Moeen is on the brink of a notable achievement. With just 23 runs needed, he could join the illustrious company of Ian Botham, Andrew Flintoff, and Stuart Broad, as the fourth Englishman to reach the Test double of 3,000 runs and 200 wickets.

Stokes also has a similar landmark in view. With 197 wickets to his name, he needs three more to complete the rare double of 200 wickets and 6,000 runs. The esteemed company of Garry Sobers and Jacques Kallis are the only members of this select club. Given his current knee condition, those three wickets seem more of an ‘if’ than a ‘when’.

As for Broad, he needs two wickets to reach 600 in Test cricket, joining

The Ashes 2023: England seeks to equalize series against Australia at Old Trafford

In this Ashes series, England has seen Moeen Ali and Harry Brook, among others, batting at number three
Fourth LV Insurance Ashes Test: England v Australia
Location: Emirates Old Trafford Date: Wednesday, 19 July Time: 11:00 BST
Coverage: Live text commentary and real-time video highlights on the Sport Newes Center website & app, and BBC Test Match Special on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra. Tune in to Today at the Test for daily highlights on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer from 19:00 BST.

Take a moment. Then carry on.

The interval following the third Ashes Test marks the longest period without Test cricket in this country since 1 June. Even so, the women’s Ashes has kept the excitement high and the work rate low.

Now, the English and Australian teams roll into Manchester, ready to write the fourth chapter of what might just be the most thrilling Ashes saga yet.

The previous three games have all been nail-biters. Defining a ‘close’ Test as one won by three wickets or fewer, or 50 runs or fewer, there have been 25 in the 340 Ashes matches before this summer. This season, we’ve seen three in a row.

And the excitement hasn’t stopped there. This series has included everything from Zak Crawley’s first-ball boundary (feels like a lifetime ago, doesn’t it?), to the Marylebone Cricket Club members transforming into England superfans, to a controversy over Alex Carey’s haircut.

Given that, we shouldn’t be too shocked if this week brings us Chris Woakes being kicked out of a curry house in Rusholme, Joe Root getting a tattoo in Affleck’s Palace, or Usman Khawaja joining Manchester City due to a long-standing wish to play under Pep Guardiola.

England’s narrow win at Headingley won’t count for much if they can’t repeat their performance at Old Trafford. They find themselves once more on the precipice of defeat, praying for a miracle.

The extraordinary possibility of an English comeback from 2-0 down to clinch the Ashes remains, but a 4-1 loss is just as plausible.

Short fourth Test could aid England – Stokes

There are echoes of four years prior, when Australia rebounded from a devastating loss in Leeds to win at Old Trafford and hold on to the urn.

At that time, coach Justin Langer famously had the team revisit Ben Stokes’ outstanding performance to quickly rid themselves of any lingering unease. This time, the break was used to disperse across Europe. The pause, and the consequent disruption to England’s momentum, may have benefitted Australia more than the hosts.

This will be the last Ashes Test north of Nottingham for eight years – neither Headingley nor Old Trafford are planned venues for the 2027 series, a decision that leaves England captain Stokes “devastated”.

While Headingley has favored England, Old Trafford has been less kind. England hasn’t celebrated an Ashes Test victory in Manchester since 1981 – their last win was more recent at the Gabba.

Hoping to reverse this unfortunate trend, England has brought back local legend and all-time leading wicket-taker James Anderson. However, even he has a challenging history to overcome. Surprisingly, Anderson has yet to take five wickets in a Test match at Old Trafford and hasn’t been part of an Ashes Test victory in eight years.

The hope lies in the conditions being more conducive to Anderson’s style than the lifeless pitches at Edgbaston and Lord’s, which left him ineffective.

There should be some speed on the surface, although not as much as Headingley, and the gloomy weather forecast indicates conditions that could favour the bowlers. Indeed, the threat of Manchester rain introduces a crucial variable and the potential for even more drama.

Stokes, known for his innovative ideas, has suggested that a rain-curtailed match could play to England’s advantage. He believes they perform best when setting the game’s pace.

Last summer, albeit against a significantly weaker South African team, England secured the final Test at The Oval in just over two days, after one day was rained out and another was cancelled due to the Queen’s passing.

“We may have to make some different tactical decisions,” Stokes said. “If we lose potentially even 100 overs in the game, we might need to accelerate the game more than we usually do.”

The Ashes 2023: Ben Stokes has ‘no issues’ with James Anderson as stormy weather looms

While England seems to welcome the rain, Australia appears to be in turmoil, leading to the exclusion of frontline spinner Todd Murphy.

Murphy, who replaced injured Nathan Lyon at Headingley, bowled only two overs in England’s second innings and is dropped for fit-again all-rounder Cameron Green.

If Lyon had been fit, his position would have been indisputable. But as captain Pat Cummins attempted to justify the debate over Murphy’s place, he remarked it was “not comparing apples with apples”.

The honours board at Old Trafford would reveal to Cummins that nine of the last 14 five-wicket hauls at the venue have been claimed by spinners. Not since 2012 have Australia competed in a Test without a specialist spinner.

Green and fellow all-rounder Mitchell Marsh in the team give Australia impressive batting depth. With Mitchell Starc at nine and Cummins at 10, it complicates England’s task of claiming the 20 wickets they require, especially in a rain-affected match.

However, with Australia needing only a draw to retain the Ashes, this selection could be seen as somewhat negative.

If they believed a seam bowler was more useful than Murphy, why not consider a primary option like Michael Neser, who has proven his batting prowess by scoring centuries in his last two first-class games for Glamorgan?

Any hint of practicality or doubt from the Australians opens the door for England to seize the initiative, despite their team having a somewhat makeshift appearance.

Their chosen lineup consists of two top-three players with a Test average below 30, a wicketkeeper more prone to catching a cold than a ball, and a bowling attack considered past its prime for affordable life insurance.

Moeen Ali, remaining at number three, has had an extraordinary summer. He has returned from Test retirement, took a day off to receive his OBE, faced trouble for using a drying agent on his hand, been dropped, and even had a cut on his finger healed by a magical honey gel sent by an England fan.

Moeen is on the verge of a major achievement. With just 23 more runs, he will become only the fourth Englishman, following Ian Botham, Andrew Flintoff, and Stuart Broad, to achieve the Test double of 3,000 runs and 200 wickets.

Stokes also has a similar milestone within reach. With 197 wickets, he needs three more to join the exclusive club of players with 200 wickets and 6,000 runs. Only the legendary Garry Sobers and Jacques Kallis are currently members of this club. Given his knee condition, these three wickets seem more a question of ‘if’ than ‘when’.

As for Broad, he requires two wickets to reach 600 in Test cricket, a feat achieved by only four other men. It

The Ashes 2023: England Strives to Equalize with Australia at Old Trafford

Moeen Ali and Harry Brook, two of the three players who have batted at the third position for England in the ongoing Ashes series, continue their run.
Fourth LV Insurance Ashes Test: England v Australia
Venue: Emirates Old Trafford Date: Wednesday, 19 July Time: 11:00 BST
Coverage: Live text commentary and in-play video clips on the Sport News Center website & app, plus BBC Test Match Special on BBC Sounds and BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra. Daily Today at the Test highlights on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer from 19:00 BST.

Time to resume.

The time since the last Ashes Test marks the longest period without Test cricket in the country since 1 June. In the interim, the women’s Ashes has kept tensions high and efficiency low.

As the fourth Test approaches, the men of England and Australia gear up to face off in Manchester for the next thrilling chapter in an Ashes series that could become legendary.

The previous three games have all been intense. Defining a ‘close’ Test as one won by three wickets or fewer, or 50 runs or fewer, there were 25 in 340 Ashes matches prior to this summer. Three in three have occurred since.

This series has been full of memorable moments, such as Zak Crawley hitting the first ball for four, Marylebone Cricket Club members becoming fervent England supporters, and controversy over Alex Carey’s haircut. It wouldn’t be surprising to see more surprises this week, like Chris Woakes getting expelled from a curry house in Rusholme, Joe Root getting inked at Affleck’s Palace, or Usman Khawaja signing up for Manchester City citing his desire to play for Pep Guardiola.

England’s narrow victory at Headingley will be in vain if they don’t succeed at Old Trafford. They are back in the last chance saloon, tasked with creating a miracle.

England is aiming for the unprecedented feat of coming back from a 2-0 deficit to win the Ashes. However, they could just as easily face a 4-1 defeat.

Short fourth Test could favor England – Stokes

This scenario echoes four years ago when Australia bounced back from a crushing defeat in Leeds to win at Old Trafford and retain the urn.

During that series, the team revisited Ben Stokes’ exceptional performance at Leeds under the guidance of coach Justin Langer, aiming to confront their past failures head-on. This time, they’ve used the break to scatter across Europe. The hiatus, which has potentially slowed England’s momentum, might have given the Australians an advantage.

This is the last Ashes Test to be held north of Nottingham for the next eight years, with neither Headingley nor Old Trafford scheduled to host during the 2027 series, a decision that England captain Stokes says has left him “devastated.”

Despite Headingley generally favoring England, Old Trafford hasn’t been so kind. They haven’t celebrated an Ashes Test victory in Manchester since 1981, their most recent win being at the Gabba.

In an attempt to turn the tide, they have called up local hero and all-time record wicket-taker James Anderson. Still, even Anderson has a streak to break: he has yet to take five wickets in a Test at Old Trafford and hasn’t been part of an Ashes Test victory in eight years.

The hope is that Old Trafford’s conditions will be more suited to Anderson than the unresponsive pitches of Edgbaston and Lord’s.

The pitch is expected to have some pace, albeit less than Headingley, and the bleak weather forecast could prove advantageous. In fact, the threat of rain in Manchester adds an extra layer of uncertainty, promising even more drama.

Stokes suggests that a rain-shortened match could work in England’s favor, as they often excel when setting the pace of the game.

Last summer, in a game against a considerably weaker South African team, England clinched the final Test at The Oval in a little over two days after weather washed out one day and another was canceled due to the Queen’s death.

“There might just be a few different tactical decisions to make,” Stokes explained. “If there is potentially even 100 overs lost in the game, we might have to look at pressing the game on quicker than we normally would.”

The Ashes 2023: Ben Stokes has ‘no issues’ with James Anderson as inclement weather looms

While England is prepared to deal with the rain, Australia seems flustered and has chosen to drop their main spinner, Todd Murphy.

Murphy, who replaced injured Nathan Lyon at Headingley, only bowled two overs in England’s second innings and is being replaced by the now fit all-rounder Cameron Green.

Lyon’s fitness would have guaranteed his spot, but the debate over Murphy’s position wasn’t straightforward, as captain Pat Cummins noted, comparing it to “not comparing apples with apples.”

Nearby, the Old Trafford honours board reveals that nine out of the last 14 Test five-fors at Old Trafford were claimed by spinners. Australia hasn’t played a Test without a specialist spinner since 2012.

Having Green and fellow all-rounder Mitchell Marsh in the team lends Australia considerable batting depth. Mitchell Starc at nine and Cummins himself at 10 raises the difficulty for England to take the 20 wickets they need, especially in a rain-hit match.

However, with Australia only requiring a draw to retain the Ashes at the very least, this feels like a slightly defensive move.

If the tourists believed a seamer would have been more useful than Murphy, they could have opted for Michael Neser, who is a competent batsman, having scored hundreds in his last two first-class matches for Glamorgan.

Any hint of uncertainty from the Aussies opens the door for England to seize the opportunity, even though their team appears slightly makeshift.

The current combination includes two of the top three players with a Test average below 30, a wicketkeeper with a propensity to miss catches, and a bowling lineup too aged to qualify for affordable life insurance.

Moeen Ali’s continued tenure at number three has been a highlight this summer, as he has not only come out of Test retirement but also received his OBE, faced controversy for using a drying agent on his hand, been dropped, and had a wound on his finger healed by a special honey gel sent by an England fan.

Moeen is on the brink of an impressive feat. He needs just 23 runs to become the fourth Englishman, after Ian Botham, Andrew Flintoff, and Stuart Broad, to achieve the Test double of 3,000 runs and 200 wickets.

Stokes is also nearing a similar milestone. With 197 wickets, he needs three more to complete the rare double of 200 wickets and 6,000 runs. Only Garry Sobers and Jacques Kallis, undeniable greats of the game, are part of this elite club. Given his knee condition, achieving these three wickets is currently more of an ‘if’ than a ‘when’.

As for Broad, he needs two wickets to reach 600 in Test cricket, joining a group of four others. It would be fitting if his regular victim, David Warner, were his 600th.

All of these possibilities await in front of what is expected to be another energetic crowd, bustling in a massive temporary stand that, together with the permanent grandstand, forms a cauldron that encases the ground on three sides.

So, despite everything, there is a peculiar sense of anticipation, a thrilling possibility that anything could happen. This is, after all, the Ashes.

For the English, the anticipation is palpable. Can England create history, or will Australia retain the urn? Only the game will tell. And we, the spectators, will be there to witness it all.

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