Matthew Henry
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

A sorry sight…

This picture has just dropped in the last few minutes.

It is never a great sign when you can puddles off the edge of the covers.

It does definitely seem to be getting brighter around Old Trafford and our office though.

Image source, Getty Images

Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport chief cricket writer at Old Trafford

Mark Wood struck crucial late blows in England's battle against Australia and the Manchester weather in the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford.

Wood, bowling with high pace and hostility, snared 3-17 to leave Australia 113-4 at the end of day three, a considerable 162 runs behind.

In any other circumstances, England would be huge favourites, yet heavy rain is forecast for the weekend - particularly Saturday's fourth day.

The home side's strong position was forged by piling up 592, their highest total in a home Ashes Test since 1985, to take a first-innings lead of 275.

Harry Brook made 61 and Ben Stokes 51, but the real pyrotechnics came from Jonny Bairstow, who clobbered a thrilling 99 not out.

Bairstow added 66 in a riotous last-wicket partnership with James Anderson and was only denied a deserved hundred when Anderson was lbw to Cameron Green.

At 2-1 up in the series and knowing a draw is enough to retain the Ashes, Australia are batting for time and the rain. They lost openers Usman Khawaja and David Warner to Wood and Chris Woakes respectively.

Stubborn pair Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith quietened the crowd before Wood had Smith caught hooking and bounced out Travis Head.

Labuschagne remains unbeaten on 44, an obstacle as large as the weather in the home side's bid to continue an unprecedented English comeback from 2-0 down in an Ashes series.

Read the report.

Out and about yesterday or last night and haven't caught up with the Test.

Allow us to help...

• Watch: Today at the Test on BBC iPlayer
• Listen: TMS podcast - Bairstow brilliance as England take control

Want a quicker watch? Here are our five-minute highlights for you to enjoy.

Fair point, Dave. England start their Women's World Cup campaign against Haiti at 10:30 BST. You'll be able to follow that with our football team from 09:00.

We'd love your answers, guesses - educated or otherwise - for today's question.

You can send them in using the usual methods: #bbccricket, WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply).

Looking forward to seeing the range of today's answers! The true optimists and pessimists will be revealed.

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?

Matthew Henry
BBC Sport at Old Trafford

Good morning. It’s wet, very wet, right now but I’ve found a weather radar that says there’ll be a three-hour gap from midday today and that from 3pm tomorrow there’ll be no rain until later into the evening so I’m sticking with that one.

I don't want to raise any hopes, but I think the rain may be getting a bit lighter and the skies a bit brighter at our Salford Quays office.

It is about three miles from the ground.

While I wait to hear more concentre news from the ground, let's bring you Saturday's ZaltzQuiz question...

England began day four on 384-4, already leading by 67, but were surprisingly restrained in the first session, even if they did add 122 runs for the loss of four wickets in 24 overs.

England had the option of declaring earlier but their plan was clear - rack up as many runs as possible to try to ensure they do not have to bat again when conditions are likely to be more difficult.

After lunch, Jonny Bairstow added a stunning 99 not out from 81 balls to speed things up before England were eventually dismissed shortly before 15:00 BST with a lead of 275.

Was it the right decision?

"It all depends on the outcome of the match," said former England captain Michael Vaughan.

"If the rain means England only get 30 or 40 overs on Sunday most people will ask why England batted so long.

"But they have played incredible cricket to get themselves in this position."

Bairstow said, to his knowledge, there were no discussions in the England dressing room about declaring at lunch with the score 506-8.

"When you are scoring freely you try to take the runs on offer," he said.

"You take the 70 runs off that now and they are a lot closer to us and we have to bat again."

He added that England have done "all they can" and "who knows what the weather holds".

Australia's hopes of victory are all but over, with fast bowler Josh Hazlewood saying he would be "very pleased" if the rain does arrive.

I'm enjoying the optimism, Anon!

We know this series is attracting new people to cricket so here's a brief overview of where we're at:

• Australia currently lead the five-Test series 2-1 after winning at Edgbaston and Lord's before England triumphed at Headingley
• England must win at Old Trafford or a drawn series is the best result they can hope for and Australia will therefore retain the Ashes as the current holders
• England need six wickets - and potentially time to knock off some runs - to win and level the series
• It's tough to say how long they will need. The pitch is slow but there have been occasional signs of uneven bounce, which will aid England's quest for wickets
• Australia are looking for their first series victory in England since 2001

• The final Test starts at The Oval on Thursday

Maybe if you all go and shout out the window the rain will disappear?

It's got to be worth a try.

The Ashes are on the line.

Ben Rich
BBC Weather

We spoke to BBC Weather's Ben Rich on Friday evening about the forecast for this weekend and this is what he said...

The weather will undoubtedly cause frustration this weekend. The only real question is whether it will be a total washout.

Cloud and rain is expected to arrive at Old Trafford by Saturday morning, and once it does it will be reluctant to clear. The wet weather will wax and wane with some slightly drier interludes, but I'm not expecting any significant dry gaps to allow any lengthy periods of play. The rain will make it feel chilly for any spectators who want to tough it out.

What's worse, while many parts of the UK will be drier and brighter on Sunday, current forecasts suggest that northern England is the one place where rain will really cling on.

We'll just have to hope that the weather front responsible shifts southwards or northwards for long enough to give at least a chance of brighter skies over Manchester.

Lancashire have just posted this photo.

It was taken at 07:40 and they said there was "overnight rain and it is lightly raining" now.

It has got heavier since then I think.

Image source, Lancashire CCC