Fourth Ashes Test: Old Trafford, 4-8 September.

[bigfluffylemon]

You get rain a lot at Old Trafford regardless of season, but scheduling a test there in September does seem like a bad idea. Not only rain, but cool, and you're likely to lose a lot of overs to bad light at the end of the day due to cloud cover.

The forecast suggests that there will be a lot of play lost tomorrow as well.

For the sake of the series, a draw here would be a good result, leaving all to play for at the Oval.

[bigfluffylemon]

Interesting quirks of Old Trafford - England haven't lost here since 2001, but haven't beaten Australia here since 1981. There hasn't been a result in Ashes tests at this ground since 1997. Since then it's been rain affected draws all the way.

Other than that, it's been a fortress for England second only to Edgbaston. And we all know how that turned out in this series...

Ground records have meant squat in the last two home seasons.

[GarlicJam]

You say

For the sake of the series, a draw here would be a good result...

, but I think you mean 'for England's sake'

[yuppie]

You say

For the sake of the series, a draw here would be a good result...

, but I think you mean 'for England's sake'

[Arthur Crabtree]

Broad joint top wicket taker in the series with Cummins. He's doing well and knocking over Head this morning.

[backfootpunch]

Big hour

Australia get to lunch 4 down 400+ starts looking likely

[yuppie]

Wade giving more reasons to question his inclusion in this team as a batsman

[yuppie]

Paine has now outscored Warner in this series.

Normally that would suggest a good series for the keeper.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Ton up for Smith, of course.

[yuppie]

Ton up for Smith, of course.

Death, taxes and all that

[backfootpunch]

Time to start the rain dance yet?

[Arthur Crabtree]

Highest score of his series for Paine (on passing 34).

[Arthur Crabtree]

Time to start the rain dance yet?

Yes, take a draw from here.

[backfootpunch]

I'm not looking forward to our batsmen making this pitch look like a minefield

[Arthur Crabtree]

Paine can bat on it...