England retain Ashes with third Test drawn by Andy Jalil

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Scorecard:	England v Australia
Event:	Australia in British Isles 2013

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DateLine: 5th August 2013

 

By Andy Jalil at Old Trafford.
In association with INVESTEC.

 

Andy Jalil at Old Trafford In association with INVESTEC © Pakistan Cricket Website

 

Manchester – The unlucky Australians, having got into a position to force a win, were victims of the elements as the third Test ended in a draw in the gloom of Manchester. Only 20.3 overs were possible on the final day with two delays before the stoppage at 2.03pm local time which – with the weather deteriorating – eventually resulted in the umpires’ official announcement at 4.39pm that play was abandoned.

 

Having lifted their performance for the first time in the series and dominated the Test from the start to the last ball, the tourists would be bitterly disappointed with the weather depriving them the chance of victory. Even if they were to win the remaining two Tests, the five-Test series will only be drawn and the little urn will remain in England.

 

Wet conditions had delayed the start of play by half an hour after Australia had declared on the overnight score of 172 for seven leaving England 332 to win in 98 overs with the mandatory 15 overs minimum to be bowled in the last hour but as it turned out that was just theory as eventually the match fizzled out.

 

Although it seemed a tall order for Australia to take ten wickets with threat of further rain or indeed for England to get the runs in the time available, Ryan Harris raised his team’s hopes trapping Alastair Cook in the third over without a score. Cook was plumb in front of the stumps yet he asked for a review of the decision.

 

Ten overs later England were 15 for two with Harris striking again as he had Jonathan Trott, on 11, held behind from a flick. Harris had taken his two wickets for nine in a space of 30 balls. He was replaced by Peter Siddle who also struck early when in his second over he dismissed Kevin Pietersen for 8. Haddin again had taken the catch, off a faint outside edge.

 

Pietersen, who had opened his account with a powerful pull for four off Harris, looked unhappy with the decision and England lost their two reviews with his request also being unsuccessful. That was 27 for three in the seventeenth over. At lunch England were 35 without further loss from 20 overs.

 

Rain had caused the second session to begin twenty minutes late and only three balls were bowled after the break with Ian Bell getting two runs from the third. He was fortunate as the ball from Siddle hit him on the gloves and went over the slips.

 

When rain brought what became the final stoppage to the match England were struggling on 37 for three with Joe Root, having been dropped on 4 by Michael Clarke at second slip off Siddle, on 13 from 57 balls and Bell on 4, leaving the Australians despondent.

 

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
Copyright © 2013 Andy Jalil)