There’s something about the Old Trafford and the Ashes.
Flashback to the 2013 Ashes in England. England held the Ashes at that time, having won the first two Tests at the Trent Bridge and the Lord’s. The third Test was at the Old Trafford in Manchester.
In between Australia’s 527/7d and 172/7d, England conjured 368 in their first innings. Four balls in the last session of the match, England were 37 for three with Root and Bell at the crease.
The heavens opened at Old Trafford. There was no further play. The match was abandoned at 4.39pm.
The series was 2-0 in favour of England after the third Test at Old Trafford. It wasn’t possible for Australia to regain the Ashes, which England retained and ended up winning the five-match series 3-0.
Fast-forward to the 2019 Ashes in England. This time Australia held the Ashes. The first Test at the Edgbaston was won by the visitors and the second Test at the Lord’s was drawn. The next Test at the Headingley is within living memory. England won by the barest of margins, of one wicket, thanks to Ben Stokes and Jack Leach.
The fourth Test was at the Old Trafford. Australia won the match and retained the Ashes on English soil for the first time since 2001 — when they last won an Ashes on English soil. The two teams went to the fifth and final Test at the Oval, with the series 2-1 in favour of Australia. England won at the Oval. The series was squared at 2-2.
When English broadcaster Piers Morgan tweeted that it would be the “greatest travesty in the history of Ashes cricket” if rain saved Australia to retain the Ashes, Morgan did and didn’t have a point.
The latter is the case because historically, rain has been a ‘neutral’ player in a five-Test match series in England. It’s very rare not to see rain influence the outcome of at least one Test in an English summer. Supporters tend to forget that rain falls randomly. This time, Australia smiles to the heavens. In 2013 it was England.
However, this time, Piers does have a point. When was the last time England played such exciting Test cricket against Australia? When was the last time, the crowd was behind England so much that even in a loss, they backed their team wholeheartedly? When was the last time, Australia was on the back foot for so much of a series?
Results are in Australia’s favour so far. That’s because Aussies have been smarter than England over the series. They trusted the weather forecast. They went to Old Trafford with a smart batting line-up and waited for the heavens to open. Rain smiled on them.
The way England play, a draw is unlikely at the Oval where the series draws its conclusion. Australia will have to enter to win and win an Ashes in England for the first time since 2001. England, meanwhile, will go hoping to level the series like they did last time in 2013.
Whatever the outcome, England’s new brand of cricket has made Test cricket interesting.
