Postpublished at 16:54 British Summer Time 23 July 2023
They have never lost as much as a ball to rain at the Lima Cricket & Football Club in Peru, I'm reliably informed.
Summary
Persistent rain on day five ensures fourth Test ends in draw
Australia have retained the Ashes
Tourists will take 2-1 lead into final Test at The Oval
Postpublished at 16:54 British Summer Time 23 July 2023
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 16:51 British Summer Time 23 July 2023
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We’ve seen the best of cricket this summer, now we are seeing the worst. The notion that there are no weather contingencies for the five-day Test format is farcical.
Jack in London
Postpublished at 16:50 British Summer Time 23 July 2023
It looks like we have some movement towards calling this off and put everyone out of their misery.
Umpire Joel Wilson is talking to Australia captain Pat Cummins.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 16:48 British Summer Time 23 July 2023
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I'm a football fan new to cricket and have just started to enjoy watching but to be honest to find despite all the hype and emotional investment in a series like this that it's ultimately decided on by the weather reminds me why it can never rival other sports for popularity. Can't some clever minds apply themselves to this issue?
Stuart, London
View from the press box...published at 16:45 British Summer Time 23 July 2023
AFP's Julian Guyer: Another thought as the unrelenting rain pours down on Old Trafford. There should always be at least one men's Test per season in the north of England. But the Manchester weather is no secret, so in a five-game series make sure an OT match is among the first three.
Postpublished at 16:27 British Summer Time 23 July 2023
Only the most diehard optimistic England fans remain at Old Trafford as the rain continues to fall. There cannot be more than 20 or 30 them left.
Glum expressions in the England dressing room as well. It remains highly unlikely we will have any play today.
Among those with a face like a wet weekend is James Anderson. Have we seen the Lancashire seamer playing in a Test match on his home ground for the last time?
Image source, Getty ImagesDaily ZaltzQuizpublished at 16:05 British Summer Time 23 July 2023
Andy Zaltzman
Cricket statistician on Test Match SpecialHere's the answer to my daily quiz question from earlier.
(a) Australia: 16
(b) England: 50
England were dismissed for under 200 in more than a third of their 146 Ashes innings from 1994-95 to 2021-22, including six times in each of the 1997, 2013-14 and 2021-22 series.
England had three or more sub-200 scores in 11 of the 15 series. Australia have not been bowled out for under 200 three times in an Ashes series since 1981, when they had four sub-200 scores.
get involved Get Involved - Daily ZaltzQuizpublished at 16:04 British Summer Time 23 July 2023
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15 series, potentially 10 innings a series... Out of 150 I think England have sadly probably passed 50! I think 52 for England, and about 17 for Australia - a little bit worse than once a series. Mo Liverpool
Mo in Liverpool
a.) 16 b.) 31
Rob N
Hello from Northern Ireland! After some quick mental gymnastics our answers for today's ZaltzQuiz are 35 for England, and 22 for Australia.
Anon
Postpublished at 16:02 British Summer Time 23 July 2023
Matthew Henry
BBC Sport at Old Trafford
Ever wondered what commentators and chief cricket writers do during rain delays?
get involved Get Involved - Daily ZaltzQuizpublished at 16:00 British Summer Time 23 July 2023
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Re Zaltz quiz. I reckon England will be double the Aussies total. So will go 60/30.
Malcolm in Sussex
We got skittled out for quite a few low scores in that period and reckon it must have been 3 times the Aussies poor innings so let's say Australia - 16, England, 48. ↑ less
Danny in Bath
Re ZaltzQuiz - I'll go with a) 11 times, b) 18 times.
Alex, Sheffield
Daily ZaltzQuizpublished at 15:59 British Summer Time 23 July 2023
Andy Zaltzman
Cricket statistician on Test Match SpecialIn a summer in which there has been less combined swing and seam movement for pace bowlers than in any England Test season since ball-tracking data became available (2006), neither side in this Ashes series has been bowled out for under 220.
It is only the sixth Ashes series out of 72 in which there have been no all-out scores below 200 in the first four Tests.
In 15 Ashes series from 1994-95 to 2021-22, comprising 76 Tests, how many times were (a) Australia, and (b) England, dismissed for under 200?
Postpublished at 15:58 British Summer Time 23 July 2023
It's been a little while since Andy Zaltzman asked his daily ZaltzQuiz question, so here's a reminder before we give you an answer.
Postpublished at 15:56 British Summer Time 23 July 2023
Alison Mitchell
Cricket commentator on BBC Test Match SpecialIn the history of Tests Manchester has lost 24 days completely to rain and two Tests abandoned.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 15:52 British Summer Time 23 July 2023
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Re Andy at 15:38. Hear hear. Schedule the match over a week and play until all out or a certain number of overs are bowled (500, maybe?). It's frustrating we don't get to whip the Aussies because of the weather.
Greg in Brazil
Postpublished at 15:52 British Summer Time 23 July 2023
This is the current scene at Old Trafford.
The rain has been leaking off the covers for a fair while now so there are puddles forming on the outfield.
If the rain does stop the clean-up operation is going to be lengthy.
Image source, BBC Sportget involved Get Involvedpublished at 15:48 British Summer Time 23 July 2023
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It’s stopped raining here in south Manchester? Any danger of a start time?
Phil, Gatley.
It's still raining at Old Trafford, Phil. I can see it hitting the covers.
Postpublished at 15:46 British Summer Time 23 July 2023
Image source, Getty ImagesThere has been some international cricket played in the north today. North of the border in fact.
Ireland have wrapped up a 128-run victory over Austria at the Grange in Edinburgh in a qualifying tournament for 2024 T20 World Cup.
The Irish posted 226-4 - their highest ever total in T20 internationals - thanks to an unbeaten 95 from Lorcan Tucker. Mark Adair then took 4-13 as Austria were bowled out for 98.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 15:38 British Summer Time 23 July 2023
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There have been a lot of negative comments here about getting the match played to a finish in some way. Whilst I love the old Test cricket format, I do think it is time for a review. The players have done their bit (eg Bazball) to bring in new supporters, especially kids, but not many will understand a rain affected draw in these important circumstances. The authorities must adapt the match rules with the changing times, otherwise I fear for the future of Test cricket.
Andy
Postpublished at 15:37 British Summer Time 23 July 2023
Image source, Getty ImagesIf you are just joining us...it's pretty bleak at Old Trafford. The covers are still on, the rain is lashing down and there's puddles starting to appear on the outfield.
Nearly all the supporters have given up hope and gone home and frustration has now turned to a general air of resignation.
Postpublished at 15:29 British Summer Time 23 July 2023
Alex Hartley
Former England bowler on BBC Test Match SpecialI think Jack Leach in the previous few months has become a completely new bowler, he's got that confidence about him. He has learnt so much more about himself because Ben Stokes has captained his character.