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)

Live Reporting

Timothy Abraham and Callum Matthews

  1. Alison Mitchell
    Cricket commentator on BBC Test Match Special

    It's a wet Old Trafford. Looking out on a sight if you are Australia fan you probably don't mind seeing. England's players have delayed their arrival and are just getting off their coach now. They firmly have their hoods pulled up. The rain is as heavy as it has been this morning.

  2. Matthew Henry
    BBC Sport at Old Trafford

    The rain seems to have got heavier again as the England players arrive at the ground for the first time.

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    Currently dry in Chester, west of Manchester. Brightening sky. Even glimpsed some blue.

    Alec, Chester

  4. Here's the BBC Cricket community coming together...

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    The weather app I'm following has a gap in the rain from 11:45-15:30 today. It also says it's not currently raining in Wrexham or Chester, can anyone in either confirm this?

    M.C in Arundel

  6. Matthew Henry
    BBC Sport at Old Trafford

    It's still raining at Old Trafford. Obviously the day is not going to start on time at 11:00 BST. It'll take a good while to clear up all of this water even if it was to stop now but it looks set in.

    They will be able to take an earlier lunch around midday, which would get that out of the way, but we're still a long way from any chance of seeing play.

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    Think we all need to keep a bit of faith here. The rain should clear at midday, play could start at 1300 giving us two hours to get six wickets! #Believe

    Revd A Watson, Lincoln

  9. Quiz: Name Broad's Test wickets

    Stuart Broad quiz graphicBBC Sport

    Fancy another challenge while we wait?

    Stuart Broad took his 600th Test wicket earlier in the game.

    But how many of the 234 players that he's dismissed can you name?

    We've given you 50 minutes so that should fill plenty of time for you!

    Head over here to have a go at naming Broad's Test wickets

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    Is there anything more comfortingly British than watching the live text feed on the BBC with 26 thousand other people to see what the weather is doing?

    John of York

  11. Get Involved - Daily ZaltzQuiz

    Text 81111 (UK only - standard message rates apply) or via WhatsApp on 03301231826

    There were quite a few large scores, especially in 1993 and 2001 if memory serves me correctly. So i'm guessing around 160.

    Chris in Manchester

    I’m going to opt for a surprisingly optimistic deficit of 75

    Richard

    During the Baggy Green Supremacy I remember Australia regularly going beyond 500 first innings so the delta here is going to be high, possibly very high. I'll go ~ 174 higher average to the Aussies

    Shaun in Rayne

    I’m being optimistic and thinking there’s an 85-run difference

    John, Liverpool

  12. Get Involved - Daily ZaltzQuiz

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    For today's ZaltzQuiz: I'm going with 127 runs. No reason, just think it will be alot!

    Peter, Sussex

    I’m guessing England to average around 270 1st innings with Australia at about 390 so a discrepancy of 120.

    Gray Proud- Cambridge

    It feels like the gap was enormous, Aussies averaging in the 400s and England in the 200s. So I'm going for a difference of 175.

    Paul in Lincoln

  13. Daily ZaltzQuiz

    Andy Zaltzman
    Cricket statistician on Test Match Special

    After three closely-fought Tests, England have established complete superiority in the fourth Test at Old Trafford, scoring at a typically Bazballistic 5.5 runs per over en route to a 275-run first innings lead.

    Such an advantage often seemed inconceivable to England supporters during the period of Australian dominance from 1989 to 2002-03, in which Australia won eight consecutive series, and won 28 Tests to England's seven (with eight draws).

    What was the difference in the two teams' average first innings score during that decade-and-a-half of Baggy Green supremacy?

  14. Earlier I gave you today's Daily ZaltzQuiz question.

    I'll give you a reminder next, before some of your guesses.

  15. Matthew Henry
    BBC Sport at Old Trafford

    I'd say the rain has got a little heavier here. There are four security staff, all standing under black umbrellas, guarding the pitch which is under the covers. There's one fan sat below the hotel under an umbrella, only adding to the dispiriting scene.

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    Two hours play at lunch today and two hours play at 4pm Sunday. Enough time to dispatch them Aussies. Onto the Oval and victory we go.

    Adam C, Manchester

  17. Matthew Henry
    BBC Sport at Old Trafford

    TMS rota

    Here’s the TMS rota for today…

  18. Criticism of my keeping 'out of order' - Bairstow

    Stephan Shemilt
    BBC Sport chief cricket writer at Old Trafford

    England's Jonny Bairstow says criticism of his wicketkeeping in the Ashes has been "out of order".

    Bairstow was preferred to Ben Foakes behind the stumps after nine months out of the England side with a broken leg.

    He missed eight chances across the first three Tests but took a superb catch in the fourth and followed it up with a thrilling 99 not out.

    "There's been some chitter-chatter and opinions that have been rather interesting at times," said Bairstow.

    Speaking to BBC Sport, the 33-year-old said: "I have not played in 10 months and not kept properly in three years so the two combined, there are going to be challenges.

    "There has been a lot of talk, some of which has been out of order. At the same time that is part and parcel of people that have an opinion and that have a say.

    "There have been times [when] if people had a conversation with you individually and found out a bit more about the injury or the ankle and how everything is going they may have a slightly different view."

    Read the full piece as Bairstow reveals he has nine pins, a six-inch plate and a wire through his ankle.

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    I'll be disappointed as the next man if we draw this game after playing so well. The weather plays a big hand on the game at the best of times in the way climatic conditions can affect the way the ball moves or toiling away in the heat in the field is draining for the non batting side. Rain actually stopping the game is a terrible shame but for me, this extra variable makes it such a unique game.

    Rupert Farnham

  20. Are England reviewing the weather?

    Hoping to see one slide past leg stump and we get dry conditions with heavy clouds?