Welcome to the Evening Standard’s LIVE coverage of the Ashes 2019.
England opener Rory Burns and nightwatchman Craig Overton return to the middle on Friday morning with the hosts already aiming to save the fourth Test after just two days of cricket.
Australia posted 497-8 declared before putting England into bat for a difficult 45-minute spell in the final session of a day which was dominated by the tourists, with Steve Smith hitting a double ton on his return to the side.
Burns successfully negotiated a blend of pace and spin as the evening sun shone down on Old Trafford, but Joe Denly never looked comfortable against the Aussie quicks and was caught at short leg after several loose shots.
Burns and Overton will - weather permitting - return to the crease with England 23/1 and some 474 runs behind.
Stay tuned to Standard Sport as Will Macpherson and Malik Ouzia guide you through the fourth Test...
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Ashes 2019 Series Schedule
| First Test | August 1-5 | Edgbaston, Birmingham | Aus won by 251 runs |
| Second Test | August 14-18 | Lord's, London | Match drawn |
| Third Test | August 22-26 | Headingley, Leeds | Eng won by 1 wicket |
| Fourth Test | September 4-8 | Old Trafford, Manchester |
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| Fifth Test | September 12-16 | The Oval, London |
Aussies haven’t left with the urn for 18 years… will England make it five home wins in a row?
2001 | Australia win 4-1
Their seventh straight Ashes win as they handed out thrashings at Edgbaston, Lord’s and Trent Bridge. Then, at Headingley, Mark Butcher’s 173* pulled one back as England chased 315. Skipper Steve Waugh returned from injury at the Oval to score a century and secure the series. Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne shared 63 wickets.
2005 | England win 2-1
The greatest series. 17 wickets fell on the opening day at Lord’s as McGrath’s brilliance carried Australia to victory. But when he went down injured at Edgbaston, England roared back, then dominated the draw at Old Trafford. At Trent Bridge, they crept home in another classic, then just held Australia off at the Oval thanks to a century from Kevin Pietersen.
2009 | England win 2-1
This series did not lack drama. At Cardiff, James Anderson and Monty Panesar batted for 69 balls to save the draw, then Andrew Flintoff’s final five-for sealed success at Lord’s. Australia followed a draw at Edgbaston with a thumping win at Headingley. That took it to the wire at the Oval, where Stuart Broad and Jonathan Trott propelled England to victory.
2013 | England win 3-0
An oft-forgotten series, partly because England were in the early stages of falling apart following an extraordinary run in which they reached World No1. England won a nailbiter at Trent Bridge, then comfortably at Lord’s. A draw at Old Trafford ensured the hosts retained the Urn before going 3-0 up at Durham, where Ian Bell made his third century of the series.
2015 | England win 3-2
Australia won in London when the pitches were flat, England elsewhere when the pitches were livelier. Joe Root’s century set up victory at Cardiff, before Australia hitback at Lord’s. England then won at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge, where Stuart Broad’s 8-15 decided the series. Australia easily took the finale at The Oval but it was Alastair Cook celebrating.
