England will keep the Ashes for the next five months at least after
Manchester's weather proved a far more impassable barrier to Australia's
bowlers than the hosts' top order batting on a grey final day at Old
Trafford. The retention of the urn arrived formally via the
underwhelming circumstances of an announcement that play had been
abandoned at 4.39pm local time, due to a solid belt of rain that could
delay its arrival no further than three balls into the afternoon
session.
By that time England had lurched to 37 for 3, Ian Bell stung on the
thumb by a prancing delivery from Peter Siddle that rather summed up the
danger posed by a committed and skilful Australian attack, who have
grown increasingly confident in their ability to snip the top off their
opponents' batting. Confounded by the rain in Manchester, they will look
back ruefully on the failure of Australia's batsmen to provide them
with anything to bowl to at Trent Bridge and Lord's, where England
established their decisive advantage.
