Ashes 4th Test, Day 4 weather forecast: Will rain spare Australia’s blushes in Manchester?

By India Today Sports Desk: England find themselves in a favourable position in the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford, Manchester, with Australia (113-4) trailing by 162 runs at the end of the third day’s action. The hosts have a chance to take control of the game, but the weather forecast for the fourth day adds a twist to the match.

According to Accuweather, Manchester is expected to have variable cloudiness with a possibility of a couple of thunderstorms. The chance of precipitation is around 50 percent until noon, reducing to 34 percent by 2 pm and staying below 40 percent until 4 pm local time.

The UK Met Office also predicts rain, stating that it will be wet and gloomy with outbreaks of rain, heavy at times, along with a fresh breeze. The maximum temperature is expected to be 18 degrees Celsius, and the chance of precipitation ranges from 90 percent until 11 am, 60 percent until 3 pm, and then increases to 80 percent thereafter, remaining at 60 percent for most of the evening.

The weather conditions on day four could impact the amount of playing time available for England to take the remaining six Australian wickets and chase any required runs if the tourists manage to take the lead in the second innings. The pitch has shown occasional signs of uneven bounce, which could work in England’s favour in their quest for wickets.

Australia, on the other hand, are determined not to hand an easy victory to England, especially since they are aiming to win a men’s Ashes series in England for the first time since 2001. With a 2-1 lead in the series and one match remaining after this, Australia know that a draw in Manchester would be enough for them to retain the Ashes, as the famous urn stays with them in the case of a drawn series.