Rain-hit final day under threat as Ashes nailbiter looms

Australia enters day 5 needing an extra 174 runs, and with Usman Khawaja on the crease however having misplaced Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne within the shadows of stumps final night time.

England, in the meantime, is seven wickets from victory – however what function will the climate play? Rain is predicted to trigger a delayed begin to Tuesday’s play, and will cling round all through the day.

Follow all of it with our dwell protection under.

8.35PM: EARLY LUNCH TO BE TAKEN DUE TO RAIN

With the rain persevering with to fall in Birmingham, it’s been determined that gamers will take an early lunch – at 12.30pm (9.30pm AEST).

This implies that the earliest potential begin time right now might be 1.10pm native time (or 10.10pm AEST).

All of this, nonetheless, is sweet news. The climate is forecast to clear up round lunchtime so this could imply there may be minimal time wasted whereas the bottom is ready.

Can you think about if they’d the bottom all able to go, after which the gamers took lunch whereas the shone down on Edgbaston?

Don’t giggle. It occurs on a regular basis.

8.15PM: ASHES HEROES FACE ANXIOUS WEATHER WAIT

If you need the freshest of climate updates, you go to the supply.

In this case, that’s CODE Sport’s Dan Cherny who’s holed up within the media part of Edgbaston Stadium, patiently ready for the cricket to get underway.

“There’s no sign of play anytime soon here at Edgbaston,” Cherny says.

“There is still some light, misty rain, and there is a heap of surface water on the outfield and on the covers.

“Groundstaff are sweeping waters off the covers while the supper sopper is working on the outfield.

“The stands are largely empty, and it’s still overcast.

“This is going to be a long couple of hours – at least – of waiting for potential play after lunch. Those spectators who are here have umbrellas and ponchos.”

7.45PM: LATEST WEATHER UPDATE

We are simply quarter-hour from the scheduled begin on Day Five, however I can inform you that won’t be taking place.

It continues to be raining, and the covers haven’t budged from the centre wicket in consequence.

Outside the bottom persons are in good spirits, regardless of the grim forecast.

The good news: Edgbaston has famously good drainage, so as soon as the rain does abate, we must always be capable of tidy issues up pretty shortly and get some play underway.

And when will the rain cease? The suggestion is it may occur round lunchtime, so one other 90 minutes or so and we’ll know much more.

“England just in front, with that wicket of Steve Smith last night, but one decent partnership and it will turn,” says Mark Taylor

7.15PM: KHAWAJA’S LEGACY-DEFINING SHOT AT ULTIMATE REDEMPTION

Thirty-six years younger and within the type of his life, Usman Khawaja has the prospect so as to add one more web page to what has been a legacy-defining chapter in his profession.

Australia will resume play on day 5 at 3-107 chasing 284 to win, with Khawaja unbeaten on 34 reverse nightwatcher Scott Boland (13).

Granted a life within the first over of the chase when he edged Jimmy Anderson between wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow and first slip Joe Root, Khawaja is now be tasked with laying the bedrock of Australia’s day 5 pursuit after the dismissals of David Warner (36), Marnus Labuschagne (13) and Steve Smith (6).

Khawaja was dropped mid-Ashes in 2019 and for two-and-a-half years that the tip of his time carrying the saggy inexperienced.

Since his return to the Test area he has been arguably the world’s finest batter, main the best way for runs scored (1796), centuries made (seven, stage with Joe Root) and with the second finest common of any batter with greater than 1000 runs in that interval (69.07).

He’s made centuries throughout three continents and 4 nations in that point, placing to mattress doubts over his means to play the turning ball in Asia and the seaming, swinging ball in England.

Testament to that’s a mean of 42.05 away from house – bettered solely by Smith and Cameron Green going into right now’s play. – JACOB KURIYPE

6.45PM: WILL DAY FIVE BE A WASH-OUT?

The first Test will get the dramatic end it deserves… or will it?

The fickle English climate has poked its nostril into the drama and added an additional layer of intrigue, with showers blanketing Birmingham on the morning of day 5.

It appears sure that we’ll be subjected to a delayed begin to play, however how a lot of an element will the climate be all through the day – and who will it favour?

The forecast means that whereas the primary session could possibly be a wash-out, issues look extra promising after lunchtime – and with the flexibility to increase play deep into the night, owing to the late sunsets of a British summer season, there’s nonetheless a giant probability of quite a lot of cricket being performed.

But if the clouds proceed to hover over Edgbaston, it may play into the fingers of the English seamers, with the wicket providing little however the overhead situations loads this Test. The most damaging interval of bowling got here below leaden skies when Pat Cummins and Scott Boland unleashed 20 minutes of hell on Day Three, taking two wickets in simply 22 balls.

THE DAY KASPROWICZ ‘SAVED TEST CRICKET’

By Robert Craddock and Ben Horne

Australia’s knife-edged Edgbaston run chase has taken quick bowler Michael Kasprowicz again to the day when, because the story goes, he single-handedly saved Test cricket.

It’s only a disgrace, as he usually tells audiences when he’s visitor talking, that the umpires didn’t know that single hand was not on the bat on the time when he gloved the ultimate catch of the 2005 Edgbaston Test behind to keeper Geraint Jones off Steve Harmison.

Australia has a large successful probability at Edgbaston tonight, needing 174 runs with its final seven wickets for what can be an important – and well-known – victory within the first Test.

There are eerie similarities to the ultimate day 4 of the second Ashes Test at Edgbaston in 2005, when Australia wanted 107 runs with two wickets in hand.

The recreation appeared gone on the final morning when Shane Warne was out hit wicket to Andrew Flintoff, treading on his stumps for 42, leaving final pair Brett Lee and Kasprowicz 62 runs from victory.

Playing a sort of Bazball earlier than the time period had even been considered, the fearless duo virtually shocked the cricket world earlier than falling an agonising two runs quick when Harmison claimed Kasprowicz in probably the most controversial style.

Had there been a DRS evaluation Kasprowicz would have been given not out as his hand was off the bat when it was clipped by the ball.

“I think DRS was being trialled around that time but they didn’t use it in the series – that’s the way it goes,’’ said Kasprowicz.

“Someone from India wrote to me saying I single-handedly saved Test cricket because if Australia had won that Test we would have been 2-0 up and Test cricket would have been dead. But everything changed after that (and England won the series 2-1).

Kasprowicz smiles when recalling the fallout to the series.

“It was massive. There was a video made of the series. They sold 10,000 copies. It was called the greatest series ever, junior participation went up 20 per cent in both countries. They gave MBE’s to all of the English players including the bus driver.

“And what do you reckon happened to me, the man who was responsible for that big moment … I got dropped (for the next Test)!’’

Kasprowicz was speaking from Sydney where he was on business for his role as General Manager of Pooled, a smart pool company which helps pool owners cut costs on the energy and chemicals needed for their pool.

He can still recall the madness that swept Edgbaston when he was given out.

“I remember in the moment being shocked. I went down on my haunches and used the bat to balance myself and sort of take it in. No-one gave us a chance. When Shane Warne got out I walked to the wicket and said to Brett Lee ‘let’s just have some fun.’ It worked because they over-attacked.

“I remember the crowd were going nuts then Andrew Flintoff bowled a ball which hit the footmarks and went for four byes and it took the target down from 13 to nine and the crowd went silent. Almost like ‘holy s**, they are going to win here’.”

Asked if he had any recommendation for Australia’s tail tonight, Kasprowicz mentioned: “Just get pleasure from it and keep in mind they are going to be attempting additional arduous to get you out.

“When they have been bowling to us (in 2005) they went nostril and toes (full and quick) and we simply stored choosing up runs and turning over the strike. That would possibly occur once more. It might be nice to look at tonight.

“It’s struck me the key ingredient of Bazball is having enjoyable. Smiling. Enjoying it. I do know it’s about backing your self however it’s greater than that.’’

Originally revealed as Ashes cricket 2023 dwell rating: Australia v England day 5, first Test