The Ashes 2023 LIVE: England vs Australia score and latest updates in fourth Test at Old Trafford

Harry Brook and Ben Stokes made half-centuries as England advanced their lead to over 200 on the third day of the fourth Ashes Test.

Starting 67 in front after the thrills and spills of Zak Crawley’s dashing century, the hosts continued to stretch their advantage at Emirates Old Trafford.

Captain Stokes reached 51 before being bowled off the inside edge by opposite number Pat Cummins, with Brook making 61 before a mis-hit hook off Josh Hazlewood picked out fine-leg.

At the lunch break they had moved to 506 for eight, with 122 runs and four wickets in two hours of rapid-fire entertainment.

Follow all the live action from Old Trafford as England face Australia:

England vs Australia - fourth Ashes Test, day three

• OUT! Stuart Broad c & b Hazlewood 7 (England 526/9) - Australia seamer completes five-for

• LUNCH: England 506/8 (lead by 189)

• OUT! Chris Woakes c †Carey b Hazlewood 0 (England 486/7) - Hazlewood strikes with consecutive balls

• OUT! Harry Brook c Starc b Hazlewood 61 (England 474/6) - Brook hooks to long leg

• OUT! Ben Stokes b Cummins 51 (England 437/5) - Australia break through after stalling England skipper

• STUMPS DAY TWO: England 384/4 (lead by 67)

• Zak Crawley: “You just have to tell yourself ‘keep being me’”

• Australia play down Mitchell Starc injury fears

England 556/9 (103), James Anderson 4, Jonny Bairstow 74, Josh Hazlewood 5-26 (26) (lead by 239)

14:33 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Steve Smith bobs his head along to the chant of the England fans behind him, finding peverse pleasure in their taunting as England’s batters gather for a mid-pitch strategy chat.

Hooked high into the stands! A colossal blow from Bairstow, taking the men on the fence on and clearing them by a distance.

England 549/9 (103), James Anderson 4, Jonny Bairstow 67, Pat Cummins 1-109 (21) (lead by 232)

14:27 , Harry Latham-Coyle

And Jimmy joins the fun! Ben Stokes beats enthusiastically on the door to England’s dressing room as Anderson swats Pat Cummins to the square leg boundary, England’s last man anticipating the chin music and able to join in with his own merry tune. There would appear little reason for Stokes to keep his last pair out there, beyond annoying the Australians - and the visitors appear appropriately irked.

England 545/9 (102), James Anderson 0, Jonny Bairstow 67, Josh Hazlewood 5-119 (26) (lead by 228)

14:24 , Harry Latham-Coyle

That Bairstow boundary does mean that Josh Hazlewood can have a crack at James Anderson. But that’s smart thinking from the England pair - a Hazlewood bouncer loops over a ducking Anderson, who gets his skates on as Bairstow calls him through for a bye. Alex Carey misses with his toss at the stumps, having released almost immediately...

Bairstow’s amongst things now, guiding a bumper down to third man to beat a sliding Mitchell Starc for a boundary. And there’s another - seeking a single, Bairstow times the pants off a legside flick to end up with four more runs instead.

England 536/9 (101), James Anderson 0, Jonny Bairstow 59, Mitchell Starc 2-137 (25) (lead by 219)

14:17 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Bairstow’s raise of the bat means six of England’s top seven have reached 50 for the first time since 1930. There’s more to come, too, the batter beating the squarer of two men in the midwicket region for another boundary.

England 532/9 (100.1), James Anderson 0, Jonny Bairstow 55, Mitchell Starc 2-133 (24.1) (lead by 215)

14:14 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A short arm jab for six to bring up his half-century! Jonny Bairstow is back, making the most of a friendly situation to canter to a run-a-ball 50.

England 526/9 (100), James Anderson 0, Jonny Bairstow 49, Josh Hazlewood 5-111 (25) (lead by 209)

14:12 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Anderson safely ducks and dodges the three remaining balls in Josh Hazlewood’s over.

OUT! Stuart Broad c & b Hazlewood 7 (10b 0x4 0x6), England 526/9 (99.3)

14:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Five for Josh Hazlewood! A massive heave from Stuart Broad ends up going up the chimney, and the bowler settles beneath it.

James Anderson is wandering out - England are batting on.

England 514/8 (97), Stuart Broad 1, Jonny Bairstow 43, Mitchell Starc 2-120 (23) (lead by 197)

13:56 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Hallelujah - sunshine as Mitchell Starc resumes! And that will further brighten England’s dispositions, wild, wayward and away for four byes down the legside.

Stuart Broad is off the mark, fending into the offside and through for a single to pinch the strike.

England 508/8 (lead by 191)

13:52 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Hurrah - Australia have re-emerged and the stumps are back in. Ben Stokes drains the last of his energy drink as he sends Stuart Broad and Jonny Bairstow back out there.

RAIN STOPS PLAY: England 508/8 (lead by 191)

13:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Hello, hello - Joel Wilson, optimistically still with his shades on, and his umpiring colleagues are back out there, inspecting the surface as the groundstaff peel off that white tarpaulin.

The rain appears to have relented - but how much damage has that short shower done?

RAIN STOPS PLAY: England 508/8 (lead by 191)

13:48 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Well, that was all rather brief - three balls and back to the dressing rooms. The hope is that this is only a passing squall, with brighter patches beyond the rather sombre skies currently engulfing Old Trafford.

RAIN STOPS PLAY: England 508/8 (lead by 191)

13:44 , Harry Latham-Coyle

To make things even more miserable for the groundstaff, the hover cover has broken! A white sheet is therefore dragged across the square to provide at least some protection, but that’s far from ideal.

England 508/8 (96.3), Stuart Broad 0, Jonny Bairstow 42, Mitchell Starc 2-119 (22.3) (lead by 191)

13:42 , Harry Latham-Coyle

It doesn’t look particularly nice out there, Mitchell Starc coweing almost at the top of his mark as the wind whips the rain into his face. A trumpeter toots beneath the hood of a cagoule - it looks like it might even be getting wetter.

The covers are coming on. Stuart Broad is desperate to stay out there, pleading with the umpires, but the umbrellas are going up.

England 506/8 (lead by 189)

13:39 , Harry Latham-Coyle

England are back out there - and Jonny Bairstow and Stuart Broad have bats in hand. Rain on the camera speaks to the need to get a move on, though. A quick dart and then stick Australia in?

Lunch: England 506/8 (lead by 189)

13:34 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Well, the difference so far is Zak Crawley, his 189 currently separating the sides. No word yet on a declaration, though it sounds like some rain has blown through while the two sides were lunching.

Sonia Twigg at Old Trafford

13:05 , Sonia Twigg

Lunch: Australia took wickets, but England have kept scoring, and have scored more than 500 runs, always a significant milestone.

The questions will be surrounding Ben Stokes’ likely impending declaration, but it is hard to predict in this England side, and they tend to do the unexpected.

500 in less than 96 overs has left the pressure firmly on the visitors. Both Harry Brook and Stokes brought up their half centuries in the morning session, and Jonny Bairstow finished on the brink of one of his own, going into the break unbeaten on 41.

Only Chris Woakes had to make a return to the dressing room without scoring when he was out first ball, but it is only encouraging for England with Australia floundering.

Mark Wood was bowled on the final ball of the session, but if they choose to continue after lunch, they will do so on 506 for eight, with a lead of 189.

LUNCH! ENGLAND 506/8 (lead by 189)

13:01 , Harry Latham-Coyle

OUT! Mark Wood b Hazlewood 6 (8b 1x4 0x6) , England 506/8 (96)

13:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

But Hazlewood has his revenge! Back on the money next ball, Hazlewood leaves off peg prone and poleaxed with Wood playing down entirely the wrong line.

England 506/7 (95.5), Mark Wood 6, Jonny Bairstow 41, Josh Hazlewood 3-105 (22.5) (lead by 189)

12:59 , Harry Latham-Coyle

An enormous ovation as Jonny Bairstow brings up the England 500, a back-foot carve and a pristine on-drive bringing back-to-back boundaries before the two batters hustle between the wickets for two.

And Mark Wood is in on the fun, Josh Hazlewood losing his line for the first time all session, and letting the England fast bowler have four freebies off his pads.

England 491/7 (95), Mark Wood 2, Jonny Bairstow 30, Mitchell Starc 2-118 (22) (lead by 174)

12:55 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Lunch is drawing ever nearer, with the interval surely a natural break in which England will curtail this innings. Jonny Bairstow will happily take any runs on offer before then, slapping Mitchell Starc out to the cover sweeper, before the bowler snakes a couple past Mark Wood’s bat.

England 488/7 (94), Mark Wood 1, Jonny Bairstow 28, Josh Hazlewood 3-90 (22) (lead by 171)

12:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Mark Wood survives the hat-trick ball, fiddling outside off in a similar manner to his predecessor but safely withdrawing his bat in time. The manner in which the ball is hooping won’t displease England, who will have use of these conditions soon enough, you’d imagine.

OUT! Chris Woakes c †Carey b Hazlewood 0 (1b 0x4 0x6), England 486/7 (93.1)

12:47 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Josh Hazlewood’s on a hat-trick! A thin edge from Chris Woakes through to Alex Carey!

A first-baller for Woakes - it’s a beauty from Hazlewood, a pleasing arc away from the right-hander’s defensive stroke to take a sliver of bat.

England 486/6 (93), Chris Woakes 0, Jonny Bairstow 27, Mitchell Starc 2-115 (21) (lead by 169)

12:46 , Harry Latham-Coyle

It’s very nearly two in two for Australia, Jonny Bairstow forming a familiar canyon as he drives outside off, and Mitchell Starc almost meanders a ball through, a flick off the inside edge saving Bairstow.

That’s better from the wicketkeeper though, tucking off his toes for four more.

OUT! Harry Brook c Starc b Hazlewood 61 (100b 5x4 0x6), England 474/6 (92)

12:39 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A skier of a top edge settles in Mitchell Starc’s hands at long leg!

Judged perfectly by Starc, planting his back foot an inch from the advertising triangle and remaining rooted to the spot as it comes down. It was a surprise short ball from Josh Hazlewood, the newer ball beating Harry Brook for pace and drawing the error on the hook, with Brook trying to help rather than heave.

The crowd boo as a replay is shown that suggests Starc might just have brushed the boundary, the catch that wasn’t at Lord’s still relatively fresh in their memory, but there’s nowt wrong with that.

England 472/5 (91.3), Harry Brook 59, Jonny Bairstow 15, Josh Hazlewood 1-86 (21.3) (lead by 155)

12:36 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Away movement for Josh Hazlewood, seam erect and curving towards a two-strong cordon. Harry Brook chances a charge down but gives himself too much room, his swipe beaten by the swing.

England 472/5 (91), Harry Brook 59, Jonny Bairstow 15, Mitchell Starc 2-103 (20) (lead by 155)

12:33 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A novel experience for Harry Brook and Jonny Bairstow - it’s the first time in this series that England’s batters have had a second new ball to face.

A neat enough array of in-duckers from Mitchell Starc, apparently unencumbered by that shoulder niggle. A legside nudge is the only run of the over.

England 471/5 (90), Harry Brook 58, Jonny Bairstow 15, Travis Head 0-52 (7) (lead by 154)

12:29 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Four nudges and nurdles suggest otherwise as England plod along.

Huzzah - that looks rather like a new ball to me. Australia finally take it to try and liven things half-an-hour before lunch.

England 467/5 (89), Harry Brook 56, Jonny Bairstow 13, Josh Hazlewood 1-86 (20) (lead by 150)

12:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle

This is the first time that five of England’s top six have got to 50 or more since 2009. Jonny Bairstow lifts the lead to 150 with a cut to deep point.

A change of pace - Travis Head’s part-time offies might be able to stir England out of their relative slumber.

England 462/5 (88), Harry Brook 55, Jonny Bairstow 9, Mitchell Starc 2-102 (19) (lead by 145)

12:19 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Mitchell Marsh is finally making a belated entry into proceedings, off the field so far today but maybe recognising the need to get out there to avoid being left unable to bat if Australia lose four wickets quickly a little later.

Across at Oakham, Josh Tongue has secured Worcestershire a handy win in Division Two of the County Championship, the seamer skittling Leicestershire to finish with figures of 5-29. Depending on what happens here, you’d suggest there is every chance that Tongue is back in the mix for England at the Oval.

A bit of drizzle falling as Harry Brook and Jonny Bairstow bat on in relative comfort. The umpires seem happy enough that it will pass through, taking up their positions for the start of the next over without fuss.

England 457/5 (87), Harry Brook 54, Jonny Bairstow 5, Josh Hazlewood 1-81 (19) (lead by 140)

12:14 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Harry Brook gets funky to find one of the very few open patches of outfield, stepping right across his stumps and helping a short ball around the corner almost over the top of Alex Carey to beat fine leg to the fielder’s right. How much longer do England go on? They might like a go at Usman Khawaja and David Warner before lunch.

Mitchell Starc returns for a second burst.

England 453/5 (86), Harry Brook 50, Jonny Bairstow 5, Pat Cummins 1-105 (20) (lead by 136)

12:11 , Harry Latham-Coyle

And there is that raising of the bat, Harry Brook never quite out of third gear in this innings but recording back-to-back fifties in the series after his rather more fluent work in the Headingley chase.

England 447/5 (85), Harry Brook 48, Jonny Bairstow 1, Cameron Green 1-58 (14) (lead by 130)

12:02 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Harry Brook gets himself going, a gambol down to belt Cameron Green over long-on. A couple of skips and into the fence it scurries.

A flick off the hip takes Brook to within two of a half-century. He’ll have to wait for it, though - time for a drink.

England 439/5 (84), Harry Brook 41, Jonny Bairstow 1, Pat Cummins 1-99 (19) (lead by 122)

11:58 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Can Jonny Bairstow relight England’s fire? It’s been good from Australia in this last little period, happy to hold the game in stasis with the direction of travel certain but time taken out potentially valuable if the rain does come. A few dark clouds are starting to circle, too, though the forecast is reasonably good for the rest of the day.

OUT! Ben Stokes b Cummins 51 (74b 5x4 0x6), England 437/5 (83.1)

11:52 , Harry Latham-Coyle

And Ben Stokes runs out of patience!

Enough of the prodding and poking, the England captain says, aiming a mahoosive mow towards cow corner. Pat Cummins ferrets one through between a flashing bat and a static pad and Australia have their first of the morning.

England 437/4 (83), Harry Brook 40, Ben Stokes 51, Cameron Green 1-51 (13) (lead by 120)

11:52 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Australia have successfully managed to stall England. Just one from Cameron Green’s latest set of six.

England 436/4 (82), Harry Brook 40, Ben Stokes 50, Pat Cummins 0-96 (18) (lead by 119)

11:47 , Harry Latham-Coyle

But a Pat Cummins ball behaves better for the England captain - there is Ben Stokes’s 50, up in 72 balls.

England 434/4 (81), Harry Brook 39, Ben Stokes 49, Cameron Green 1-50 (12) (lead by 117)

11:44 , Harry Latham-Coyle

And so on we will go with Australia not really trying to take wickets and England not able to really force quick runs. Everything in Cameron Green’s next over is in at the ribs or of even greater altitude, with Harry Brook and Ben Stokes milking away like dairy farmers.

Blimey. Out of nowhere, Green gets one to jump as Stokes attempts a prod to get to a half-century, the England captain gurning - but not necessarily minding another sign of variable bounce with that lead swelling ever larger.

England 429/4 (80), Harry Brook 36, Ben Stokes 47, Pat Cummins 0-95 (17) (lead by 112)

11:39 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Cummins looked frazzled at times yesterday, taking personal punishment amid the wider failings of the collective. It was he, really, who let things slip after Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood had begun reasonably nicely with the new ball, letting Zak Crawley and Moeen Ali get into their stride.

That’s a more encouraging beginning, tying both batters down for the concession of only a couple. Right - the new Dukes is ready to be taken, but Australia are happy to leave it in the box for now.

England 427/4 (79), Harry Brook 35, Ben Stokes 46, Cameron Green 1-45 (11) (lead by 110)

11:34 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Cameron Green is next to present his fare at the buffet, his offerings hurled in halfway down with pretty much every other Australian back on the fence. England work the angles to take five from his over before Pat Cummins brings himself on at the other end.

England 422/4 (78), Harry Brook 32, Ben Stokes 44, Mitchell Starc 2-97 (17) (lead by 105)

11:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Driven majestically! And again! Harry Brook has finally found his timing, the elbow high and the strike clean as he tucks in to an appetising half-volley and full toss combination as Mitchell Starc serves up some tasty small plates outside off stump.

Four more! Brook pierces the cordon with a run down to third man.

England 410/4 (77), Harry Brook 20, Ben Stokes 44, Josh Hazlewood 1-77 (18) (lead by 93)

11:24 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Stokes is on the march, baton twirling in his hand as he lumps Josh Hazlewood through midwicket for four. Australia have so far gone into the surface and into the batter’s body, with Hazlewood around the wicket - would hiding it outside off be a better approach?

The older ball is causing England some issues, though, the occasional shorter one not quite getting through. Three overs until the new one is available and Australia have a decision to make.

England 406/4 (76), Harry Brook 20, Ben Stokes 40, Mitchell Starc 2-85 (17) (lead by 89)

11:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle

“No no no!” Ben Stokes roars, but it’s too late for Harry Brook - and he’d have been gone if Pat Cummins had managed to hit the pegs at the bowler’s end. Brook had stopped short of his ground, resigned to his fate after a bit of Harry-kari running, but another chance goes begging for the Australia captain, who missed with a similar shy yesterday evening.

Better from Starc, hitting his yorkers reasonably consistently to keep England digging in a trench. Three singles from the over.

England 403/4 (75), Harry Brook 19, Ben Stokes 38, Josh Hazlewood 1-73 (17) (lead by 86)

11:16 , Harry Latham-Coyle

That would have been a fascinating decision for Kumar Dharmasena to make, but Australia’s immediate withdrawal of an appeal meant the on-field umpires didn’t refer it. The contact was almost simultaneous - and Dharmasena calls over to the Sky Sports commentary box to indicate he’d have given it not out, not believing the bail to have been removed from its groove before Carey’s gloves struck.

Anyway, Stokes remains, and crashes Hazlewood through midwicket for his fourth boundary.

England 397/4 (74), Harry Brook 18, Ben Stokes 33, Mitchell Starc 2-82 (16) (lead by 80)

11:12 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Wallop! Here comes the carnage, Ben Stokes backing away and swiping Starc through midwicket for four. Cameron Green retreats from the gully to position himself at fly slip.

Starc nearly knocks Stokes over next ball, crunching his toes with a perfectly directed yorker that the England captain does rather well to shovel out.

Almost a run out! It’s Michael Neser again, a rocket arm from deep cover nearly ending Stokes’s frolic. In fact, it should have been out - Alex Carey drops it and swipes the bails off just as the ball strikes the stump, and his raised hands admitting an error remove the need for further inspection from the third umpire. But should he have been quite so hasty? He had deflected the ball on to the stumps, though perhaps not with enough force to dislodge the bails, before his gloves struck a half-beat later.

England 389/4 (73.1), Harry Brook 17, Ben Stokes 26, Mitchell Starc 2-74 (15.1) (lead by 72)

11:06 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Mitchell Starc is able to bowl, too - he’ll test out that sore shoulder first up at the other end.

Solid enough to start, in the channel at 89mph as Ben Stokes blocks into the offside.

England 389/4 (73), Harry Brook 17, Ben Stokes 26, Josh Hazlewood 1-67 (16) (lead by 72)

11:04 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A block to begin from Ben Stokes, but a massive heave on the charge second ball is perhaps more indicative of England’s likely stylings this morning. No contact.

A single to deep point gets England going and then Harry Brook plays his best stroke of his knock so far, a crisp cuff through the covers on the up, with a sliding effort on the boundary keeping him to three. Mitchell Starc is out there, but Mitchell Marsh is not - Michael Neser, who slammed a remarkable hundred for Glamorgan during the time between Tests three and four, on as the sub fielder.

England 384/4, Harry Brook 14, Ben Stokes 24 (lead by 67)

11:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Pat Cummins has a bit of a grimace on his face as he leads his side out. Yesterday was one of his worst days in Test cricket, you’d imagine - what bright ideas has he come up with overnight?

Josh Hazlewood will kick thigns off, a slip, a gully, with square fielders in the deep on both sides.

England 384/4, Harry Brook 14, Ben Stokes 24 (lead by 67)

10:55 , Harry Latham-Coyle

We’re just about ready to go at Old Trafford, the outfield clear aside from the security staff with the covers hauled away. A few of the stands are slower to fill than yesterday, perhaps due to that morning rain. Can Australia bounce back from yesterday’s mauling?

England 384/4 (lead by 67)

10:51 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Besides, that variable bounce late last night suggests that batting might not be straightforward as this Test wears on, even if day four is wiped out. Australia would love a spinner in their eleven, mind, though coach Andrew McDonald defended the decision to omit Todd Murphy last night.

“We felt like on this surface, against this opponent, that spin wouldn’t play a huge part and we’re yet to see that,” McDonald told the BBC.

“I know Moeen took a wicket in the first innings, but we’ll never know what it would’ve looked like with a spinner [on day two].

“We went with a different attack and we’ve got to focus on the bowlers we’ve got.”

Ashes fourth Test, day three

10:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle

It looks a bowling morning in Manchester, slate skies and heavy clouds. While England’s initial approach is obvious, this is a tough situation for Australia to play. A few of the top order might already thinking about the next job, but they can’t simply afford to let England take all of the momentum into the second innings. A bit of a rally this morning could lift a side that looked flat last night. The weather may well wipe out tomorrow entirely, but you can’t simply play for the rain.

Ashes fourth Test, day three

10:33 , Harry Latham-Coyle

England’s rapid rate of scoring makes us feel further into this innings than we actually are - there are still eight overs to be bowled before the new ball is due. Australia were chuntering away about the state of the old one as Zak Crawley and co. bish-bash-boshed it out of shape, but Pat Cummins might consider sticking with the aged Dukes instead of taking a fresh one from the box - a harder, newer ball will come on to, and off of, the bat quicker.

Ashes fourth Test, day three

10:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Australia are expecting Mitchell Starc to be able to bowl, his shoulder injury last night threatening to further blot a difficult day in the field. I can’t recall seeing an Australian side look quite so short of ideas since England’s triumph down under in 2010/11, and that was a home attack without the sort of quality this one possesses.

England’s Ashes centurion Zak Crawley: ‘Any other captain would have dropped me’

10:19 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Zak Crawley believed that in any other set up he would have been dropped after he repaid the selectors’ faith in him with a stunning 189 as England moved into a dominant position in the crucial fourth Test on day two at Old Trafford.

At times during the Ashes, England’s batters have come under criticism for their shot-selection and recklessness, but Crawley’s innings was clever.

Having taken 67 deliveries to score his first 50, from then he motored along, at times going at more than seven an over in a 206-run partnership with Joe Root that took the day away from Australia.

Ahead of the series, the pressure was on Crawley, although as someone who spurns social media he might not have been aware of all the noise surrounding his position in the starting XI, but his innings today showed every bit of his shot-playing ability and class.

“It’s fair to say that under any other coach or captain I probably wouldn’t be playing this series. So, to be backed by them gives me a lot of confidence,” the England opener said.

Zak Crawley: ‘Any other captain would have dropped me’

Mayors urge ECB to rethink venues for 2027 Ashes

10:11 , Harry Latham-Coyle

This is, of course, a second Test in succession in the north, with trips to Headingley and Old Trafford always enjoyed by England’s players. But the schedule for the 2027 Ashes does not include a men’s Test north of Nottingham, with the Ageas Bowl added to the itinerary for the first time to give the series a rather southern look.

The mayors of Greater Manchester and West Yorkshire, Andy Burnham and Tracy Brabin, have written to the ECB urging them to reconsider

“Headingley and Old Trafford are two of England’s most iconic cricket grounds, and home to historic Ashes moments from Ian Botham’s heroics in 1981 to Ben Stokes’ ‘Miracle of Headingley’ in 2019,” said the letter from Burnham and Brabin to Richard Thompson, the ECB’s chair, according to the BBC.

“Very few grounds attract support as passionate or indeed as diverse as Headingley and Old Trafford - as a number of England players themselves have acknowledged in recent days.

“The rivalry between Lancashire and Yorkshire within cricket is legendary, but this is an issue that unites both sides of the Pennines.

“We urge you to think again and ensure people in the north of England get the opportunity to witness more iconic Ashes moments in 2027.”

Ben Stokes ‘devastated’ 2027 will have no northern Ashes Tests

Ashes fourth Test, day three

10:04 , Harry Latham-Coyle

So what will England be looking for this morning? A dash and a dart and then a declaration before lunch with the lead somewhere around 200? Harry Brook struggled to find his timing last night but he, Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow have full licence to go as hard as they like, you’d think, with England ready to ride the helter-skelter again after an extraordinary second afternoon.

Ashes fourth Test, day three

10:01 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Good morning news to bring you - the covers are being peeled off the Old Trafford square, with morning rain appearing to have blown through and the skies starting to clear.

Kohli keeps India on course for big total v West Indies

09:50 , Lawrence Ostlere

Meanwhile in the Caribbean... Virat Kohli forged a century partnership with Ravindra Jadeja for the unbroken fifth wicket to steer India to 288-4 on the opening day of the second test against West Indies in Port of Spain.

An opening stand of 139 between skipper Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal gave India a strong start after being put into bat at the Queen’s Park Oval.

But they lost four wickets in the second session to nearly squander the strong start before Kohli and Jadeja combined in a 106-run partnership to steady the innings.

Australia play down injury fears surrounding Mitchell Starc

09:41 , Jack Rathborn

Australia have moved to play down injury fears surrounding Mitchell Starc.

The Aussie took a heavy blow to his left shoulder and was unable to throw the ball when he returned to the field of play.

“I think the leg is good, no issues there,” Daniel Vettori, Australia’s assistant coach, said. “The shoulder, we saw what happened in the field, he’s currently got some ice on it and we’re pretty confident it will be right tomorrow.

“He’s one of those guys who doesn’t like to spend too long off the park. But he got straight into a hot spot and three balls in a row came to him in the field and he didn’t quite feel comfortable throwing it. I haven’t actually spoken to him but that’s what it looked [like]. We’re all pretty confident he can bounce back tomorrow.”

The Ashes 2023: Weather for Day 3 at Old Trafford

09:32 , Jack Rathborn

Today's weather looks mixed, with drizzle forecast throughout the day.

England know the forecast is poor for the weekend, with plenty more rain, so they'll need to get a move on.

The hope will be to hit the accelerator with the bat early and then push for those precious 10 wickets to head back to the Oval.

England’s dedicated day for Alzheimer’s Society ‘a wonderful opportunity’

09:22 , Lawrence Ostlere

Alice Davidson-Richards hopes Alzheimer’s Society’s new partnership with the England and Wales Cricket Board can be a game-changer for dementia.

Day three of the final Ashes Test at the Oval on July 29 will be dedicated to Alzheimer’s Society to raise vital funds and awareness.

And England’s Davidson-Richards, whose father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia two-and-a-half years ago, believes it will make a big difference.

England’s dedicated day for Alzheimer’s Society ‘a wonderful opportunity’

Zak Crawley’s beautiful 189 repays the faith as England seize control

08:53 , Jack Rathborn

Zak Crawley struck a glorious 189 to dispel any questions surrounding his place at the top of the England order as Australia were left scrambling for answers on the second day at Old Trafford.

In a series that has so often been poised on a knife edge, with each side winning sessions, day two was one where the momentum swung fully in favour of the hosts, who finished the day 384 for four with a lead of 67, largely due to Crawley’s innings.

Before the start of the series, Crawley was under pressure to perform, less from Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum than the wider cricketing audience, but he showed why he has always held the faith of the England selectors.

Zak Crawley’s beautiful 189 repays the faith as England seize control

Zak Crawley: “You just have to tell yourself ‘keep being me’”

08:52 , Jack Rathborn

Centurion Crawley was delighted to ride his luck to produce a sparkling 189 to help England close day two of the fourth Ashes Test on 384 for four, a lead of 67 runs against Australia.

“Yeah it is a good vibe, today was a good day for us and we’re in a good position as a team so I’m sure the boys are happy,” Crawley told Sky Sports. “I enjoyed it a lot, it was good fun. I rode my luck at times – well, quite a lot of the times – but played some good shots along the way and I was very pleased.

“I do doubt myself but at times you just have to tell yourself, ‘keep being me, that is the way I play’. I am quite streaky, I have to ride my luck at times, but in other times I will go through a good patch of scoring quick. I just have to keep backing that game and thankfully I did today.”