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As it happenedended1567963876

Ashes 2019 LIVE: Australia retain the Ashes after clinching victory in tense fourth Test

Follow all the reaction from Old Trafford

Michael Jones
Sunday 08 September 2019 15:15 BST
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England v Australia: Ashes Fourth Test preview

Australia have retained the Ashes after defeating England by 185 runs in a thrilling fourth Test.

England began the day in survival mode, needing 383 runs to win with Rory Burns and Joe Root already dismissed. Joe Denly and Jason Roy made a strong stand in the opening hour, however, Pat Cummins then tore through the top-order to leave England teetering on the brink.

Jack Leach and Craig Overton produced a valiant ninth-wicket partnership to leave Australia nervous with little over an hour of the fifth day remaining before part-time leg-spinner Marnus Labuschagne finally broke the deadlock. Josh Hazlewood trapped Stuart Broad lbw moments later to secure the urn. Follow all the reaction live:

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Good morning and welcome to the final day of the fourth Ashes test match at Old Trafford.

England need a miraculous rear guard batting performance to save this test match and keep the Ashes series alive. 

Australia need 8 wickets to win the match and retain the Ashes.

Which way will this day pan out?

Michael Jones8 September 2019 10:11
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After losing Rory Burns and Joe Root last night England's custodians at the crease are Joe Denly and Jason Roy.

Neither have had the best of series and today will be the biggest innings of their lives. They have to bat well and bat long and get England into a position to go to the Oval with the series alive.

Can they do it?

Michael Jones8 September 2019 10:15
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At Headingley the crowd of England fans gave everything to their team on the final day, dragging Ben Stokes along on his way to a fantastic match winning hundred. 

They arrived at Old Trafford ready to do the same but since the first day Australia haven't let them. The visitors have dominated all but one session and kept the crowd out of the game.

Except for an hour yesterday afternoon.

England avoided the follow on and Australia were on the charge. Up stepped Stuart Broad: 

Michael Jones8 September 2019 10:23
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In the Ashes series of 2005, England went into the final day at The Oval needed to bat all day to win the Ashes.

The newspapers said England only needed one hero. One hero and the Ashes were theirs. 

Kevin Pietersen stepped up that day. Who will do it today?

Joe Denly? Jason Roy? Ben Stokes again? 

The stage is set for someone to go down in Ashes history, do any of the England batsmen want it hard enough?

Michael Jones8 September 2019 10:28
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In cricketing terms Australia should have already retained the Ashes. By all reason in the game, a victory at Headingley should have been theirs. 

At Old Trafford they've dominated from the outset, should England avoid defeat here the lads from down under will start to believe the cricketing gods are against them.

They have the bowling unit to make this a short day's play. The longer it goes on the more in England's favour it leans.

It's been 18 years since Australia won the Ashes in England, today is their best opportunity, have they got what it takes?

Michael Jones8 September 2019 10:37
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"We know it will be difficult on this wicket against this attack but as Ben Stokes showed last week, anything is possible." 

England's coach Trevor Bayliss still believes England can save this game and that they are using Ben Stokes' Headingley heroics as inspiration:

Michael Jones8 September 2019 10:44
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This series has been compared with 2005 quite a bit. In that series, at Old Trafford, England were the ones on top and needed to take 10 Australian wickets on the final day.

Ricky Ponting batted all day and scored 156 to see his team hold on for a draw.

Today is the reverse, Australia have the ascendancy, a great seam attack and the best spinner in the world on a turning pitch. They also only need 8 wickets.

Who will be England's Ricky Ponting? Who will step up? Someone has to bat all day and get a big hundred, can it be done?

Michael Jones8 September 2019 10:56
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ENG 18-2, trail by 365, Denly 10, Roy 8

Here we go. Tim Paine leads out the Australians, Joe Denly and Jason Roy punch gloves. Game on.

Michael Jones8 September 2019 10:59
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ENG 18-2, trail by 365, Denly 10, Roy 8

Josh Hazlewood has the first over. Joe Denly is on strike, he's got 10 to his name already how many more can he get?

Hazlewood starts with a gentle loosener that Denly blocks to mid-on. A round of applause from the crowd.

Michael Jones8 September 2019 11:00
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ENG 18-2, trail by 365, Denly 10, Roy 8

Denly is hit on the front leg and Australia appeal. Umpire Dharmasena says 'not out.' Tim Paine doesn't review.

Hazlewood has got the ball to nip back into Denly in this over. It's hard work out there and we've only had five balls.

Michael Jones8 September 2019 11:03

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