The Ashes: Australia in England 16th Jun - 31 July

[GarlicJam]

Have the Aussies done enough to get the draw?

This might be where they win the Ashes, with England well on top on day three. Four down and still well behind.

Retain - maybe, maybe not. As you say, it's the weather, English weather at that.

Fans of both sides are aware that a draw here will only stop England being able to win the Ashes. An Aus winning the series is another matter - one that is proving increasingly difficult for Australia to do in England.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Retain - maybe, maybe not. As you say, it's the weather, English weather at that.

Sorry. Schoolboy's error.

[bigfluffylemon]

How much play is expected over the next two days? England will be kicking themselves if the Aussies hold on.

Maybe, but given how fast those last 100 runs came, if England had declared 10 overs earlier, Australia would have been 180 behind. Given they're now 113-4, would the additional 10 overs to bowl them out actually save much time, or do you just make it more likely you have to bat again - at which point each over that Australia bats past the target takes effectively 2 overs out of the game. Short of total collapse (which you can't bank on), I don't think England could have expected to bowl Australia out in less than 80 overs either way. It's just whether you bat again or not.

[Arthur Crabtree]

But if the rest of the game is lost, or most of it, England's only chance of winning was bowling the Aussies out in fewer than 80 overs.

Though given they batted on as long as they did, the last 10 overs are not an issue. To push the game forward in a three day game, Stokes and Brook needed to score faster at the end of day two.

Still, we'll see. Maybe they have info that there will be another couple of sessions left in the game.

[Durhamfootman]

Weather girl on the bbc says there might be a chance of play after lunch tomorrow. They might yet get the time….. fingers crossed

Of course if they hadn’t been so dozy that they gifted the first two test to Australia then they wouldn’t be now looking upwards all the time . This England side without Leach is a much better side than Australia without Lyon

[Arthur Crabtree]

Planned inspection at 14.00. But there's currently water all over the outfield.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Promise of a start at 14.45. But then there will be more rain, so the unknown factor is how long will this opportunity last.

Or this window, as we're expected to call it.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Maybe this window will ensure there's no ticket money to return.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Well. Fifty partnership.

[Durhamfootman]

Australia dropping anchor, which is all they need to do, of course

[Arthur Crabtree]

Good effort by the Aussies. Root gets Labu, but as well as the ton he's dug his side half way out of a hole.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Ten overs to a new ball.

Sounds like Marsh survived a half chance drop.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Rain. Presume that's the window closing.

Would have been a dismal session for England but for that late wicket.

[Durhamfootman]

That new ball will be key, I think. Seemingly the wet yesterday killed the reverse swing and then the light stopped England bowling anything other than spin. It’s still there to be won, but I think Australia will cling on

[GarlicJam]

What's the latest forecast and conditions for Manchester?