If its a draw, do we retain the ashes
Yes
Replay surely
Increasingly looking like there won’t be any play today.
It’s been absolutely hammering down all day in manc. Got soaked to the skin this morning out on the bike. A day where you could never get your clothing right as it’s not cold. Proper torrential downpour all day so far. The rivers in the peaks are as full as ever I’ve seen them.
Hard to see any play today, but you never know. Be a shame as it would have been a tension filled session or two.
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I bumped into a pal last night who’d been at the first three days. He’s not shy of a bottle anyway, but he was absolutely banjaxed from drink. Big purple face on him.
Ultimately the first test declaration will have cost England the Ashes if there’s no play today. 
It’s a pity because 2-2 would have made for an unreal finale next week.
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Australia retain the Ashes.
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Yea. There simply wasn’t enough play at Old Trafford for England to force a win in a test match that was effectively reduced to 3 days and Australia batted for 160 overs in.
I’ve said it since Day 1 at Edgbaston in the first test, there would be no getting away from that idiotic declaration and it would cost England. England just have to regroup and win at the Oval to at least get a 2-2 draw in a series where they have the better team and have dominated for the majority of the exchanges. Weather forecast is not good for South London for the forthcoming week either though.
Eh mate, have you forgotten the congrats to us for retaining the ashes?
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Well done to all Australian cricket backers on retaining the Ashes.
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It was like they were trying to be big men & lay down a “we’re not afraid of you” marker with the ultra aggressive declaration.
I was really hoping everything would be up in the air for the final test but the weather ruined it. But every cloud & all that, at least I was able to watch the hurling final today instead.
England were much the better team so far in the series but Australia losing Lyon was a hammer blow.
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I went to the hurling final in the end, once it was apparent there would be no play. What is annoying is I’m in London for a few days next week and have an offer of a Day 5 ticket at the Oval.
It may well be a very good game if it goes to day 5, but I’d check your source, as day 5 tickets are sometimes not sold in advance. Blow for lancs that too, as if there aren’t 15 overs, they have to pay the ticket money back. They’ll have lost a fortune between that and sales, though they may well have insured against it with the likes of slipstream.
There will be pride at stake in the next game, and plenty of needle I’d imagine. Both teams looking to make a statement.
The Barmy Army have gone very quiet since the Australians retained the Ashes. You’d hardly know there was a game on today. 261/8.
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Poms all out for 283. Some good lower order biffing from Wood and Woakes
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Butterfingers Bairstow drops another one.
The Barmy Army are seething that the Aussies are playing Test Match Cricket and not flailing their bats at every ball.
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Unreal run out here. Smith gone. 8/194.
Or will he be called back?! It’s very tight.