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The Ashes 2023 bandwagon rolls into Old Trafford in Manchester for the fourth Test, set to get underway on Wednesday.
Though Australia are still 2-1 ahead in the series, the visitors will be extremely wary of an England side full of confidence and self-belief.
Ben Stokes’ men could have squandered the series in the third Test at Headingley, having falled 2-0 behind after Lord’s. But they showed gumption to fightback and claw their way back into the series.
Bet here on The Ashes 2023 England vs Australia series (selected markets)
But the job is far from done. Pat Cummins’ team are still firmly in the driver’s seat and need just a draw to retain the Ashes.
However, allowing the home team to win at Manchester and forcing a decider in the fifth Test is a very risky ploy. Will Australia seal the Ashes in Manchester or will England make it 2-2? Let’s find out.
The Ashes 2023 England vs Australia, Fourth Test Scorecard
For the live scorecard of the Fourth Test click here.
England vs Australia: The Ashes Fourth Test, Day 1 live updates
Follow our live updates below for all the action from Day 4 of The Ashes 2023 Third Test between England and Australia (All times local, UK).
OUT! Marsh departs – Australia 255/7 (62.4 overs)
Woakes has two in the same over and this time, it’s the well set Mitch Marsh who was threatening to take the game away from England. A peach of a delivery from Woakes induces the edge from Marsh, who was batting on 51. Still, it required an absolute stunner of a catch from Bairstow behind the wicket. The keeper was wrong-footed initially but he flung his right hand out and managed to hold on at full-stretch.
Australia in dire straits.
OUT! Green falls – Australia 254/6 (62.1 overs)
A brief counterattack from Mitch Marsh and Cam Green (16) comes to an end, by the barest of margins. Woakes got one to skid on straight and Green missed it, getting hit on the knee-roll. Joel Wilson gave it out, only for Green to review. And it was umpire’s call on the stumps, taking the leg stump by the barest of margins. 50-50 call but that is enough to continue Green’s travails with the bat this Ashes.
OUT! Australia lose their Head – Australia 189/5 (49.5 overs)
Travis Head falls just short of a half-century and it is a huge blow for Australian hopes. Broad sprung the short ball trap on him and Head took him on. But he could not control his hook and Joe Root took a low, stooping catch running in from the boundary.
It was also Stuart Broad’s 600th Test wicket. What a champion bowler!
The over rate from England has been extremely slow. In fact, they have to bowl 41 overs in the final session of the day.
3:42 pm TEA on Day 1
Australia 107/2 (25 overs) – Head 47*, Marsh 1*
Another see-saw session on day 1 sees the game well-poised with Australia reaching 187/4 at tea. England will be the happier team, given that they have taken out four key wickets including that of the well set Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne.
Smith, who looked extremely good, missed a straight, fast one from Wood while Labuschagne fell on the stroke of tea for a well-made 51. He was struck in front of the wicket by a Moeen Ali off-spinner that seemed to be turning too much. But the reviews showed it hitting the top of leg stump, much to Australia’s distraught.
A lot rides on Travis Head who is batting beautifully in the final session. On what seems a decent batting track, Aussies need to make the third session count. For England, another couple of wickets and they will be into the Aussie tail.
OUT! Australia 120/3 (29.2 overs) – HUGE WICKET for England! The dangerman Steve Smith, who has looked so good today, is gone for 41. And it’s sheer pace from Mark Wood that has done the trick. Smith shuffles across as usual but a straight 92 mph ball from Wood traps him LBW. Umpire Nitin Menon initially doesn’t give it but the review from England shows all three reds.
1:01 pm LUNCH on Day 1
Australia 187/4 (49 overs) – Smith 29*, Labuschagne 33*
A well-contested first session sees Australia reach 107/2 in 25 overs. The pitch seems to be on the docile side a bit and Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne have looked very comfortable so far in their stay.
England asked the Aussies to bat in overcast conditions but the ball hasn’t moved around alarmingly. England, however, will be very happy that both Australian openers are back in the hut already. Broad got one to nip into Khawaja while Warner edged Woakes behind after getting a good start.
Australia have also scored at a fair clip, more than 4 runs an over which has shown how comfortable it is for the batters now. The sky is clear now and Australia will hope they can consolidate this position in the second session.
OUT! Australia 61/2 (14.1 overs) – Warner departs after making a promising start. He’s done so well to get himself to 32 but a moment of weakness has seen him throw it away. Woakes pushes one across him and a casual drive sees him nick one to Bairstow.
OUT! Australia 16/1 (5 overs) – The big fish, Usman Khawaja, departs and it is Broad who prices out the first wicket for England. A full ball that nips back from Broad has Khawaja struck on the knee roll. But the line is good and the height is fine too. The review does not save him. That was also Stuart Broad’s 599th Test wicket.
11:00 am: Nitin Menon and Joel Wilson are the umpires for this Test. Stuart Broad to get us underway as David Warner takes strike.
England vs Australia: Fourth Test Playing XIs
England XI: Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Moeen Ali, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jonny Bairstow (wk), Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad, James Anderson
Australia XI: David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Mitchell March, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Josh Hazlewood
Australia have a sprung a surprise of sorts, opting to play both Mitch Marsh and Cam Green and dropping Todd Murphy.
Toss Update: England to bowl first
Ben Stokes has won the toss and has decided to put Australia into bat at Old Trafford. The conditions are a bit overcast and we know England are comfortable chasing in the fourth innings.
“We spoke about the weather quite a bit this week, but today’s not too bad, so we’ll look to operate as we do and if the Test match gets deeper, we’ll come up with some plans then,” says Stokes.
Meanwhile, Into the Ashes podcast is here with Episode 4 | Will the Manchester weather play a crucial role?
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England bring Anderson back
England are all set to go into the fourth Test by bringing in hometown hero James Anderson in place of Ollie Robinson. Anderson, who has been off-colour in the first two Tests, will hope to use his experience and knowledge at his home ground to good effect. Moeen Ali is expected to bat at No.3 in the absense of Ollie Pope.
What is the pitch at Old Trafford like? What are the stadium records in Tests? Read this to find out.
As we count down to the start of the fourth Ashes Test, here’s how to watch the iconic series around the world.
Shane Warne’s Ashes: Old Trafford chapter
Read this piece to take a jog down memory lane and relive the exploits of the great Shane Warne at Old Trafford.
England vs Australia: The Ashes fourth Test tips, predictions and betting odds
MORE: The Ashes: England vs Australia series odds, betting markets (selected territories)
| ENG win |
AUS win |
Draw |
|---|---|---|
| 2.98 | 2.70 |
2.82 |
England vs Australia: The Ashes Second Test Live Streaming and TV Details
Here’s how to watch The Ashes action in your local territory:
| TV CHANNEL | LIVESTREAM | |
| Australia | Channel 9/9Gem | 9Now |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports Main Event/Cricket | Sky Go |
| India | Sony Sports Ten 5/Ten 5 HD | Sony LIV app |
| USA | Willow TV | Willow TV app |
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