Summary

  • Play resumed at 14:45 BST before rain returned at 17:00 and no further play possible

  • Brook drops Marsh on 31 - tough chance at short leg

  • Labuschagne caught behind off Root for fine 111 - given on review

  • Australia lead five-match series 2-1 and will retain Ashes if England fail to win

  • Use audio icon at top of page to listen to Test Match Special

  • Get Involved: #bbccricket, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

  1. get involved

    Get Involved - cricket wedding XIpublished at 13:14 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    #bbccricket, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Julian Croker: Matthew Church, Ian Bell, Felix Organ, Jeremy Groome, Tino Best man, Doug Ring, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Donald Carr, Colin Guest, Michael Beer.

    Tom Berry: My wedding themed pace attack: Michael Hold, Freddie True, Curtley Ambrose, Waqar You.

    John Lovewell: Are any of the weddings taking place in a Greg Chappell?

  2. Postpublished at 13:07 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    This is the current scene at Old Trafford.

    Old TraffordImage source, BBC Sport
  3. Postpublished at 13:04 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    Matthew Henry
    BBC Sport at Old Trafford

    We’re in the window of potential dry weather I mentioned earlier. It has just about stopped and we have groundstaff appearing on the outfield. Cheers from those few people in the stands.

  4. Postpublished at 13:01 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    Carioca Cricket ClubImage source, Carioca Cricket Club

    A friend of mine called Ed plays for the Carioca Cricket Club in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

    Given all the rain in Manchester today he has been in touch to remind me of the Geoff Boycott weather-inspired nickname of the club's ground.

    Because matches are rarely affected by rain the CCC are able to play nearly all year round in Rio. Their ground, a converted polo field on the outskirts of the city, has been dubbed "the corridor of sun certainty" by the players.

    I'm sure Sir Geoffrey would raise a smile to that one.

  5. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:58 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    #bbccricket, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    David Jones: So frustrating. We’re about 35 miles away, on the Staffs Cheshire border and it stopped raining a couple hours ago. The roads and pavements are bone dry.

  6. Postpublished at 12:53 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    Matthew Henry
    BBC Sport at Old Trafford

    Cricket

    As ever during rain breaks, there are games of cricket behind the stands. This one has the extra jeopardy of the tram line over the leg-side boundary.

  7. Postpublished at 12:48 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    Jim Maxwell
    BBC Test Match Special

    Now the Americans are involved in the game following the launch of Major League Cricket they are going to bring some innovation with all their Silicon Valley millionaires. These blokes need to throw some money at the heavens, get something which prevents this nonsense of rain stopped play!

  8. Delayed startpublished at 12:41 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    A reminder, if you needed one, that it's raining at Old Trafford and the start of play has been delayed until...who knows when.

    The maps on the BBC Weather forecast for the day suggest there could be a small window sometime in the early afternoon when the rain may stop.

    However, a lot will depend on how quickly the groundstaff can complete the mopping up operation and, perhaps more pertinently, when the umpires determine that their efforts have got the ground to a state where it is playable.

    Quite a few ifs, buts and maybes as things stand.

    Old Trafford weatherImage source, BBC Weather
  9. Postpublished at 12:31 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    Matthew Henry
    BBC Sport at Old Trafford

    Marnus Labuschagne has just arrived carrying a big cardboard box. I'm intrigued.

  10. Postpublished at 12:29 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

    I can see the Australian coach walking out and there Aussies have arrived. The bus has just landed in the car park, I don't know if that's a good thing. I'm not getting news of an early lunch either.

  11. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 12:24 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    #bbccricket, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Flemming Jensen: As a Dane, I am and probably always will be learning about cricket, but I can obviously understand that play just can't commence the minute the rain stops, if it stops. But at least TWO HOURS to get ready - how does that work?

  12. 'Bair weather friend'published at 12:21 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    Daily Mirror

    Daily Mirror also focuses on Jonny Bairstow and England's battle with the weather.

    They appeal for a "bair weather friend" as England pray there's enough time to take the remaining six Australia wickets, and potentially chase a target too.

    Back page of the Daily Mirror on 22 JulyImage source, Daily Mirror
  13. Postpublished at 12:14 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    Michael Vaughan
    Former England captain on BBC Test Match Special

    I'm a big fan of Jonny Bairstow and I would have stuck with him. I wouldn't mind either him or Foakes but I would have stuck with my choice like England have. It doesn't surprise me the way he batted the way he did, I always knew he would come back and be fiesty. He's a brilliant batter.

  14. 'Four down, six to go'published at 12:10 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    The Daily Star

    The back page of the Daily Star concentrates on Jonny Bairstow's brilliant innings and the progress England made with the ball.

    Six to go, folks.

    Back page of the Daily Star on 22 JulyImage source, Daily Star
  15. Postpublished at 12:03 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

    Even when it does stop raining, it will take at least two hours for the ground to be ready for play and then we have consider whether there will be a few dry hours for play.

  16. 'Aussies running scared!'published at 11:56 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    The Daily Mail

    The back page of the Daily Mail has gone in on comments made by Josh Hazlewood, who admitted Australia were hoping the rain would come.

    It's made the Mail say the Aussies are "running scared".

    Agree?

    Back page of the Daily Mail on 22 JulyImage source, Daily Mail
  17. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:56 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    #bbccricket, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

    Floydarama: Well its brightening up in Warrington and over towards Liverpool, so it's looking better coming into us...

  18. 'Touch Wood'published at 11:48 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    The Daily Express

    The back page of the Daily Express focusses on Mark Wood - who took three Australia wickets on Friday - and England's battle with the weather.

    A clever "touch wood" line from them.

    Daily Express back page on 22 JulyImage source, Daily Express
  19. Postpublished at 11:47 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    Right, before we publish some of your Wedding Xis let's take a quick look at how an engrossing day three was reported by some our colleagues in the media.

    Here's a glance at some of the back pages,

  20. Postpublished at 11:43 British Summer Time 22 July 2023

    Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport chief cricket writer at Old Trafford

    I've had a £10 bet with Test Match Special's Henry Moeran there will be at least one ball bowled today. I'm confident.