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So, that is it from myself, Karthik Raj and my co-commentator, Aryasekhar Chakraborty as we wrap up the coverage from this Test match. Cricketing action for the day doesn't end here as there is a MLC game between Seattle Orcas and LA Knight Riders being played out. Do switch to the coverage of that fixture while we bid adieu for now!
Pat Cummins (Australia captain): Preference to come here and win the Ashes but happy to have retained it for now. Doesn't change how we look at the final Test at the Oval. We have had a pretty similar group for the last two years and we were really motivated coming out here. I thought they batted very well. We tried a few different plans which didn't come out well. We will hopefully be better for next week but they were fantastic. Feel pretty good actually, having a break leading up to the series was helpful. (About Marnus Labuschagne's century) He was fantastic along with Marshy yesterday. I know how hard he works and good to show his class out there. That's what we all turned out to be. Retaining is nice but fully focused on winning it
Ben Stokes (England captain): Tough one to take. To get on the wrong end of the weather is tough. Coming into the game, we knew what we had to do. It was another do or die game for us. Don't think we could have done more in this game. We have got a lot to fight for in the last game as well. (Regarding Chris Woakes and Mark Wood's contribution) They have been unbelievable. The injury to Popey made us think about the structure of the team. Very pleased with everyone who has managed to walk out on the field in this series. I have been very vocal about anything that has been throw at me about Zak (Crawley). He changes games and if he stays at the crease for any length of time, he is going to positively influence matches. Yeah, it is amazing. Jimmy and Broady have been amazing. Broady likes playing against Australia, he has a fantastic Ashes record. (About missing out on a chance to win in the 1st Test) No regrets. We know what the last Test means for him. We want to finish off the series in a great manner
Zak Crawley, Player of the Match: We were in a very good position to win the game but the weather wasn't great. We were in a position to win on Day 3 and also yesterday. The rain cost us on both occasions. Think this is my best knock. I haven't been stuck at one end against quality bowlers. I try to take take with singles before looking for boundaries if needed. Take a lot of confidence from this. Every bowler in their side is top quality, there is no let-up. Ben (Duckett) is a phenomenal player. When he came back into the side last winter, I didn't realise how good player he is. Long may the partnership continue. Every game is massively important for us
MATCH DRAWN!
Australia 1st Inns 317-10 England 1st Inns 592-10 Australia 214-5
Mitchell Marsh 31* (107) | Cameron Green 3* (15)
Mark Wood 11-0-27-3 | Chris Woakes 12-5-31-1
It was only a matter of time before the day was called off and England will feel hard done by after Australia went onto retain the Ashes on the virtue of a draw. The weather in Manchester was a dampener all through the day. Unlike Day 4 when the rain gods decided to relent for one session, it was rain, rain and rain which didn't allow any ball to be bowled on the final day of the Test.
It was the English skipper who won the toss on Day 1 and put the visitors in. None of the Australian batters could convert their starts into big ones. As many as six batters crossed the 30 run mark but none managed to go past 51. Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh were the top scorers with 51 each which Steve Smith and Travis Head chipped in with 41 and 48 respectively. Chris Woakes was at his imperious best bowling in the right channels and managed to prize out a fifer.
When England came out to bat, it was Bazball intent right from ball one. They lost an early wicket of Ben Duckett but that was the only bright spot in the Australian bowling innings. Crawley put on a master class, scoring a blistering 189 off 182 deliveries and treated the crowd to some electrifying stroke-play. England gained a clear ascendancy in the game at the end of Day 2 and it promised to be a game changing Day 3 for England.
Jonny Bairstow produced a gem this time, scoring 99 off 81 deliveries and was unlucky to miss out on a century after losing his partners at the other end. It was colossal hitting and his knock was studded with 10 fours and 4 sixes. England took a massive lead of 275 runs and tried their best to not bat again in the match considering the prediction of inclement weather for the next two days.
In retrospect, the declaration could have come a bit earlier but the way Marnus Labuschagne and Mitchell Marsh batted for the only session which happened on Day 4, it looked Australia would have gotten past the England score. However it was Joe Root's introduction which again turned the complexion of the game as he nicked out Labuschagne after he scored a brilliant century. That was the last few moments of the game and no play took place after tea on Day 4.
5.25 PM local time, 21.55 PM IST: Finally, we have the announcement that the game has been called off. This was always inevitable with the amount of downpour we have had over the last few hours.
3:54 PM local time, 8:24 PM IST: The latest update from the ground is that it's only a matter of time before the day's play is called off.
3:05 PM local time, 7:35 PM IST: No news from Manchester. The rain is relentless and there are large puddles on the field. It seems like Australia have retained the urn.
Trust me, I wish I had some update for you but it's still raining in Manchester. Hope of a result is dwindling by the minute.
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