England is preparing for the possibility of needing to rely on spin to win the vital fourth Ashes Test, after Joe Root and Moeen Ali were asked to bowl close to half the overs on Saturday at Old Trafford due to bad light.
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After a wet day at Old Trafford, Australia will resume on Sunday at 5-214 and need another 61 runs to make England bat again in the fourth Test.
With the game — and the series — in the balance, the final day will come down to how much play is possible and whether England has the bowling firepower to take quick wickets at Old Trafford to set up a possible win.
England captain Ben Stokes had an animated discussion with umpires Nitin Menon and Joel Wilson late on day four when they decided the light was too poor to utilise pace bowling.
If given a choice, England would no doubt have wanted to make use of Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and James Anderson, not to mention speedster Mark Wood, whose rapid bowling registering speeds up to 160kph has made life uncomfortable for Australian batsmen in this Test.
Some pundits and fans online expressed surprise at the decision, pointing to the fact that Wilson had been wearing sunglasses out in the middle at the time.
England staff remain adamant the quicks should have been able to continue bowling, but the concern would now be that the precedent is set for the same decision to be made on Sunday.
The change ended up working to some extent for the hosts, after Joe Root had Marnus Labuschagne caught behind for 111 — the only wicket of the day.
“We were sat on the balcony and we didn’t think it had deteriorated that much to not allow the seamers to bowl,” England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick said.
“The umpires out in the middle deemed it was too dark and they’ve got to make that decision.
“And tomorrow, if that’s what we’re given, then that’s what we’ll take.
“Any opportunity that we can get out in the middle tomorrow we will be grabbing with both hands.”
With heavy rain forecast around Manchester again, England know they must first rely on the weather clearing before having any chance of staying in with a chance of winning the series.
The Australians have been realistic about the fact they would be happy with rain to save them in this Test and ensure they retain the Ashes with a draw.
And while Trescothick is not surprised Australia are hoping for rain, he believes it could work to the hosts’ advantage.
“It’s a natural thing to say. When you’re trying to save the game and there’s an opportunity of rain, everyone’s going to say the same things,” the former Test opening batter said.
But he warned: “It can be a little bit dangerous.
“If you start looking for other ways than internally in your team to stop games happening, or to not lose a game, potentially it becomes a dangerous point.
“At the end of the day you have to go out and earn that victory, whatever way it is.”
AAP/ABC
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