Rain slows England’s push for consolation win in Ashes

MELBOURNE: Melbourne’s fickle weather slowed England’s push for a consolation victory in the fourth Ashes Test yesterday, with rain forcing an early end to the fourth day with Australia struggling after Alastair Cook batted through his team’s entire first innings.

Trailing by 164 runs after England’s first innings ended on 491 on the first ball of the day, Australia crawled to 103 for two in their second innings when play was suspended before tea because of the storm, increasing the prospect of a drawn match with only one day remaining.

The Melbourne Cricket Ground floodlights were illuminated and ground staff covered the centre wicket in the hope that the match would recommence before the umpires eventually called off play for the day and ordered an early start tomorrow.

“Anytime there’s a bit of rain and you’re on top in the game, it’s a bit frustrating,” England’s Australian- born coach Trevor Bayliss said.

“But we have an opportunity tomorrow to win so that’s the attitude we’ve got to take.

“We showed in the first innings that we can take a number of wickets reasonably quickly and 98 overs is more than enough time if we play well to force a result.”

Australia were still 61 runs in arrears and under enormous pressure to get back into the contest as England pressed for a morale-boosting win after losing the first three matches of the fiveTest series to concede the Ashes.

First- innings century- maker David Warner, batting with extreme caution, was unbeaten on 40 from 140 balls when play was interrupted. — AP