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. Get Involved

    Text 81111 (UK only - standard message rates apply)

    About to board a flight from London to Boston. Hoping that when I land the game is over and the series set for a barnstormer next week!

    Chris in London

    England aren’t going to be able to blame the weather for not winning this game in the end. Should have taken at least a couple here.

    George in York

    Marnus Labuschagne just trying to waste time to get an undeserved path to retain ashes. Get on with it.

    Matt, on a train

  2. 6 runs

    Aus 177-4

    Trail by 98

    Well, I wasn't expecting that.

    Marnus Labuschagne advances down the track to Joe Root and clips him over mid-wicket for six.

    Superb shot.

  3. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    We would have liked to see Mark Wood but Joe Root is known for having a golden arm and picking up wickets.

  4. Double spin for England. It is probably through necessity rather than choice.

    Joe Root is coming on.

    Can his golden arm find the breakthrough?

  5. Alex Hartley
    Former England bowler on BBC Test Match Special

    I like that Moeen is bowling, he needs to pitch the ball up and what he's done previously is ball short.

  6. Aus 169-4

    Trail by 106

    Moeen Ali eventually gets to bowl and he starts with a half-tracker which Marnus Labuschagne cuts away for a couple.

    Oh hello! Bounce! Moeen gets one to rise on Mitch Marsh and it hits him on the gloves.

    England won't mind seeing that.

  7. Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

    So much time is being lost, it's very frustrating.

  8. The two umpires are now taking a light reading. We've wasted almost four minutes over this.

    We've only had 16 overs in 93 minutes today. It's quite frankly pathetic.

  9. Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

    I get the feeling that because Ben Stokes hasn't bowled yet, he is incapable of bowling because of his body.

  10. What is going on now?

    England want to bring Mark Wood on and the umpires have a conversation.

    They then approach Ben Stokes.

    Moeen Ali is going to bowl instead.

    The umpires must have said that Wood couldn't bowl. It has got a bit darker at Old Trafford.

  11. Matthew Henry
    BBC Sport at Old Trafford

    There’s rain in the air.

  12. Aus 166-4

    There is a teeny, teeny bit of movement in for James Anderson.

    It's barely anything but it has the slip cordon clapping in excitement.

  13. What is going on here?

    The umpires pick a ball, England shine it and then Marnus Labuschagne decides he wants to see it.

    Get. On. With. The. Game.

  14. Matthew Henry
    BBC Sport at Old Trafford

    How many times has a change of ball been cheered?

  15. Stuart Broad wants the ball changed because he thinks it has gone out of shape.

    He's going to get his way. It isn't fitting through the gauge tool they use to check.

    Could this spark something? We see it so often.

  16. Jonathan Agnew
    BBC cricket correspondent on Test Match Special

    The short ball is a pointless tactic if the batter doesn't engage and Marsh has shown no intention of playing it too. So Ben Stokes, what are you going to do?

  17. Vic Marks
    Former England spinner on BBC Test Match Special

    England are desperately looking to create a chance.

  18. Aus 163-4

    Trail by 112

    This is pretty dull. Every ball seems to be taking an age too. Can England afford that?

    There's a brief moment of excitement as a Mitch Marsh pull flies up off the boot of Harry Brook at short leg, and has Ben Stokes diving after it, but it bounced before hitting Brook.

  19. Marnus Labuschagne has looked very assured so far today.

  20. Matthew Henry
    BBC Sport at Old Trafford

    Cloudy skies

    This is the direction, over the back of the stand, that the rain has been coming from. Not too bad.