Australia’s lead in the Ashes series has been left hanging by a thread after two horrendous days at Old Trafford and they are now praying that rain helps them escape with a draw, even if it would be a hollow way to retain the urn.
Mark Wood’s pace extracted three wickets in Australia’s second innings and such was the damage inflicted that the best part of the two remaining days may need to be washed out for them to avoid defeat. The forecast, however, looks likely to oblige and the Australians weren’t trying to hide that they would gladly take a helping hand.
“I’d be very pleased,” Josh Hazlewood admitted. “It’s obviously forecast but forecasts can change all the time.
Obviously, rain and light plays a big part in cricket and has done forever. So, yeah, it’d be great to lose a few overs here and there and make our job a little easier if I’m hanging in there.”
Different forecasts are providing varying prediction as to how much rain will come over the next two days, but Saturday looked universally bleak with a bit more uncertainty over Sunday’s final day.
Australia were 132 for 4 in their second innings at the time of going to Press after making 317 in the first innings and conceding 592 to England.