England will undertake a win-at-all-costs mentality for the fourth Ashes Test, ready to play much more aggressively in a bid to try to beat the rain at Old Trafford.
The hosts enter Wednesday’s Test needing to win to maintain the sequence alive, with a draw sufficient for Australia to retain the Ashes with a 2-1 scoreline and another match to play.
Rain has fallen daily in Manchester for the previous week, and whereas the forecast is best for the primary two days it’s rather more bleak over the weekend.
That has emerged as a real situation for England, who concern their probabilities of profitable again the Ashes for the primary time since 2015 may very well be washed away by dangerous climate.
“You never want to look too much into the weather but in the position we find ourselves in, we find we might have to,” England captain Ben Stokes mentioned.
“We know we have to win this game to take it to the last game for us to have a chance of getting the urn back.
“Going into the final recreation 2-0 down, we knew we needed to win that so I believe that helped us a little bit bit.
“Maybe again with the weather that’s predicted, it might bring more out of us again knowing that we might have to push the game on even more than we normally do.”
The hosts will possible need to do it with out Stokes bowling, with the England skipper hoping to not be required after a knee harm prevented him utilizing himself at Headingley.
Regardless, England will nearly actually wish to win the toss and bowl on Wednesday, with their lengthy choice being to chase and management the tempo of the sport.
That would additionally give them the chance to declare behind within the first innings if required, and in addition know the speed they have to rating to push for a win within the fourth innings.
Australia additionally preserve they’re right here to win the sequence and safe their first success in England since 2001.
But captain Pat Cummins has mentioned whereas it’s too early to start planning for rain, he would not threat a doable loss at Old Trafford to go onerous chasing a win.
At the identical time although, Cummins doesn’t need his gamers excited about the sequence scenario and reverting to taking part in for a draw too early if there have been a number of rain delays.
“Any player is at their best when they are trying to win a game and compete,” Cummins mentioned.
“It’s one of those things you can’t think about too much. Forecasts are necessarily that accurate. Things change quickly.
“You exit to win and if there’s a large shift in situations and you should change the way in which we give it some thought, we do.”
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
