Published: Aug 04, 2013, 02:52 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 04, 2013, 02:52 PM (IST)
Michael Clarke was unbeaten at 30 when bad light stopped play © Getty Images
Aug 4, 2013
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Play has been abandoned due to rain. Australia are disappointed while England must be slyly joyous.
Play has been abandoned due to rain. Aus 527 for 7 decl and 172 for 7 lead Eng 368 by 331 runs. Day 4 report: http://t.co/EJ4RGuMaBp #Ashes
— CricketCountry.Com (@cricket_country) August 4, 2013
Aus 172/7 | Overs 36 | Clarke 30*, Harris 0* OUT! Starc 11 (11)
Starc is dismissed as Australia extend their lead to 331. England are wasting time. Their over-rate is 12.2 overs. The light is fading.
Umm how can they stop for bad light if the floodlights are on? #Ashes
— Sam Clark (@_sam_clark_) August 4, 2013
Aus 152/6 | Overs 32 | Clarke 21* OUT! Haddin 8 (9)
Australia will be hoping rain stays away as there is a forecast of shower. Haddin selflessly loses his wicket in pursuit of quick runs. They lead by 311 runs.
I think that shot confirms they’ll declare tonight then… #Ashes
— Pete Dafeet (@petedafeet) August 4, 2013
Aus 137/5 | Overs 29.3 | Clarke 14*, Haddin 0* OUT! Smith 18 (18) TEA
Smith falls on 18. He has ran himself out. As Smith was coming for the second run Clarke seemed disinterested. But Smith had run about three-fourth of the distance. Australia have lost their fifth wicket.
Play stopped for rain and with England seeming to be playing for a draw seems like we know where the result is going #Ashes
— Shane McBride (@Shane_McBride_) August 4, 2013
Aus 103/4 | Overs 24 | Clarke 1*, Smith 0* OUT! Watson 18 (24)
Bresnan has his second wicket. It was a short delivery which Watson uppercut straight to Kevin Pietersen at third-man. All too easy for England. They have picked up two wickets in two overs.
Couple of quick wickets here for England. This match is becoming increasingly intriguing. #Ashes
— Ulysses Pesto III (@bourbonomics) August 4, 2013
Aus 101/3 | Overs 23 | Watson 16*, Clarke 1* OUT! Khawaja 24 (38)
Usman Khawaja is bolwed round his legs. He tried to work Swann on the leg-side and shuffled just a little too much. In walks Australian captain at No 5.
Anyone would think England were on top the way Swann & Broad celebrated that wicket. #Ashes
— Trent MacDonald (@TMacDonald_) August 4, 2013
Aus 75/2 | Overs 18 | Khawaja 19* OUT! Warner 41 (57)
Joe Root has caught David Warner and the crowd jumps in joy. They are booing Warner in unison. An important wicket falls for Australia.
Oh the irony! Warner caught by Root off Bresnan for 41, 2-74, lead 233. #Ashes
— glenn mitchell (@MitchellGlenn) August 4, 2013
An interesting tweet:
Warner punching Broad all over the place. Pardon the pun. #ashes
— Johaan Anthony (@futurejourno14) August 4, 2013
Aus 44/1 | Overs 13 | Warner 26*, Khawaja 4*
Australia’s decision to open with Warner is working well. He is looking well-set and the crowd is absolutely silent as he is playing some shos. Khawaja is looking to support Warner.
If Warner comes off here what will it mean for Watson’s aspirations to continue as an opener? #Ashes
— glenn mitchell (@MitchellGlenn) August 4, 2013
A review:
Warner goes for a hook and misses it. The Hot-spot shows nothing. The snickometer registers a sound. The luck is favouring the visitors. Hosts don’t like that decision.
Not out! Warner survives. England lose a review. Australia 1-34, lead of 193 #Ashes #ReturnTheUrn
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) August 4, 2013
Aus 23/1 | Overs 6 | Warner 11* OUT! Rogers 12 (23)
Rogers fall early to Stuart Broad. Rogers was looking to run down the ball to third man but instead edges the ball to ‘keeper Matt Prior. England will be looking to put Austalia under pressure.
Aus 19/0 | Overs 5 | Rogers 10*, Warner 9*
Rogers has looked positive. They are building the lead which is healthy. The only way England can get back in this game is by picking up early wickets. So far Australian openers are looking comfortable.
Eng 368/10 | Overs 139.3 | Anderson 3* OUT! Prior 30 (98)
Matt Prior falls to Siddle. Prior goes for the pull but the ball takes the leading edge and Australia have secured a 159-run lead.
Eng 361/9 | Overs 136 | Prior 28*, Anderson 0*
Matt Prior is farming the strike for most part of this partnership and not exposing Anderson against Lyon. Prior is doing all the scoring here.
Interesting statistic:
James Anderson first 54 Test innings no ducks, next 59 innings 11 ducks! #Ashes #EngvAus
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) August 4, 2013
Eng 353/9 | Overs 132 | Prior 20*, Anderson 0* OUT! Swann 11 (11)
Graeme Swann walks after inside-edging Siddle. Is this a change in the policy? All of a sudden they are walking after edging the ball. Australia are in sight of a big lead.
And now @Swannyg66 does the same #spiritofcricket
— Jonathan Agnew (@Aggerscricket) August 4, 2013
Eng 339/8 | Overs 129 | Prior 16*, Swann 0* OUT! Broad 32 (66)
Stuart Broad walks after edging the ball to Lyon. He is out after an enterprising 32. Australia have the eighth wicket. A bit too late, is it? Australia will be looking to pick up the two remaining wickets quickly.
Broad caught behind off Lyon, turns and walks. A wonder of the age.
— mike selvey (@selvecricket) August 4, 2013
Eng 333/7 | Overs 128 | Prior 16*, Broad 32*
Stuart Broad has been in superb form. He has edged the ball to third-man boundary but the shot of the morning has been the exquisite cover drive off Harris. The eighth wicket has added fifty runs. Australia are leaking runs.
England inch close to avoid the follow-on.
England 317-7. 11 runs needed to avoid the follow on #Ashes #Rise
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) August 4, 2013
Eng 302/7 | Overs 124 | Prior 14*, Broad 9*
England get 300 on the board. Matt Prior has looked positive at the start of Day Four. He drove Harris for a magnificent four through covers. In Harris’s next over a short ball was pulled in front of mid-wicket for his second boundary of the day. England now need 26 to avoid the follow-on.
Prior keeps on hitting the ball hard! 2nd boundary of the morning already by him as Broad hangs in there Eng 302-7 Prior 14* Broad 9* #Ashes
— Broady Fans (@BattalionBroady) August 4, 2013
Weather forecast:
The @bbcweather forecast suggests a rainy afternoon but chance of more play after tea. Monday very rainy until late afternoon #Ashes
— BBC TMS (@bbctms) August 4, 2013
Hello and welcome to CricketCountry’s coverage of the most-awaited blockbuster series of the season, the Ashes 2013. I, Sarang Bhalerao, will bring you momentary updates of the action from Day Four of the third Test in Old Trafford.
On a topsy-turvy day of cricket, Australia finished on top again. Despite a scratchy half-century from Alastair Cook and a typical Kevin Pietersen masterpiece, the Australian pacers did well on a flat wicket to put England in a precarious position. England will resume Day Four on 294 for seven.
If you missed the game yesterday, you can check out the live blog and the talking points from the Day Three. You can also check out the final report from the third day’s play as we wait for the action to begin on Day Four.
