Rain counter England bid for fourth Test win against Australia

England were left waiting on the rain as their push for an Ashes series-levelling win against Australia in the fourth Test at Old Trafford on Saturday was delayed by bad weather.

This is a must-win match for England, currently 2-1 down with two to play, if they are to regain the Ashes.

They headed into the fourth day of five in a commanding position with Australia 113-4 in their second innings, still 162 runs behind England’s imposing first-innings 592.

England are effectively six wickets away from a win that would square the series at 2-2 heading into next week’s fifth Test at The Oval in London. But persistent rain was still pelting down on Old Trafford — with the pitch and square fully covered — when play should have resumed at the scheduled start time of 11am.