Pat Cummins’ side will be hoping for rain at Old Trafford after they were dominated by the host’s Bazball batting on day three.
The start of day four has officially been delayed.
England blasted 592 in the first innings despite Josh Hazlewood’s five-wicket haul, with Jonny Bairstow’s unbeaten 99 stealing the show.
The tourists were then thrown to the wolves with England taking 4-113 in response, still trailing by 162 runs, with Marnus Labuschagne (44*) and Mitchell Marsh (1*) unbeaten at stumps.
MATCH CENTRE: England vs Australia Old Trafford Ashes Test scorecard
Bairstow blitz silences critics on Day 3 | 01:08
With two days left, England are in a dominant position to level the series and take the 2023 Ashes to a blockbuster decider – if rain subsides.
According to the UK’s Met Office, heavy rain is predicted with a 90 per cent chance of showers from 10am to 12pm local time.
That figure drops to 60 per cent at 1pm before going down to 30 and 20 per cent between 2 and 3pm. By the late afternoon though it is back up to 60 per cent.
England will be desperate to take the field and skittle the tourists with Mark Wood’s speed proving to be a crucial factor to their success.
His 3-17 on day three destroyed Australia’s top order, proving the current urn-holders have been truly outclassed at Old Trafford.
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“I’d be very pleased if it rains,” Josh Hazlewood admitted.
“It’s obviously forecast, and forecasts can change all the time, but it would be great to lose a few overs — it would make our job a bit easier.”
It looks like Hazlewood and the Australians may get their wish, at least based on the scenes in Manchester, with Michael Vaughan describing the weather as “awful”.
“Obviously the way in which we have played the game and have played the way over the past 18 months is something we are very proud of,” Bairstow said in response to those comments.
“If that’s the comments that are coming through, well the weather is the weather. I’m not (British weatherman) Michael Fish.”
Forecast for the north west, according to the Met Office:
“Wet and gloomy for much of Saturday with outbreaks of rain throughout, heavy at times. A fresh breeze developing. Feeling cool under the persistent rain, though humidity building into the evening. Maximum temperature 17 °C. A wet morning with occasionally heavy rain. The rain may turn a little more showery during the afternoon but any drier spells will be brief. Maximum temperature 18 °C.”
BAIRSTOW BITES BACK AT CRITICS
Earlier, Jonny Bairstow said he had been subjected to “out of order” criticism following a whirlwind innings that cemented England’s hold on the fourth Test.
Bairstow’s 99 not out off just 81 balls helped England to a mammoth 592 all out in their first innings.
The wicketkeeper then held two catches off fast bowler Mark Wood as Australia reached 113-4 in their second innings at stumps on the third day — still 162 runs behind in a match England, at 2-1 down with two to play, must win if they are to regain the Ashes.
Bairstow broke his left leg in three places and suffered a dislocated ankle following a freak accident on a golf course in August last year.
While his outstanding form with the bat at the start of England’s ‘Bazball’ era meant a Test recall was all but assured when he regained fitness, many pundits questioned whether Bairstow was being asked to do too much in keeping wicket as well.
Those concerns intensified as Bairstow dropped seven catches and missed a stumping during the opening three Ashes Tests.
England, however, resisted calls to restore Ben Foakes as their wicketkeeper and Bairstow said much of the commentary regarding his glovework had been overblown.
“You’ve got to have a bit of perspective on it,” Bairstow told the BBC.
“I’ve not played in months and I’ve not kept properly in three years.
“There’s obviously been a lot of talk and things like that, some of which I think has been a bit out of order to be honest but that’s part and parcel of people having an opinion.” – ‘Tiresome’ – The 33-year-old Yorkshireman, who hammered Australia’s bowlers for 10 fours and four sixes on Friday, was equally dismissive of suggestions he is at his best when he has a point to prove.
“Everyone thinks I play better when people have a go at me,” said Bairstow, who became the seventh batsman in Test history to be stranded on 99 not out when last man James Anderson was lbw to Cameron Green.
“It gets a bit tiresome, to be honest. I’ve played a lot of cricket now. To keep being told you’re rubbish — if I was that rubbish I wouldn’t have played 94 Tests.”
Match position: Australia are 162 runs behind with six wickets standing
Toss: England
Umpires: Joel Wilson (WIS), Nitin Menon (IND)
TV umpire: Kumar Dharmasena (SRI)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (SRI)