The Ashes - England vs Australia - 4th Test Preview & Prediction
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THE FACTS
When is England vs Australia taking place? Wednesday, July 19th-23rd, 2023 – 11:00 (UK)
Where is England vs Australia taking place? England vs Australia will take place at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester
What channel is England vs Australia on? England vs Australia will be televised live on Sky Sports in the UK
Where can I stream England vs Australia? Sky Sports subscribers in the UK can stream England vs Australia live on Sky Go.
LAST MEETING
England beat Australia by three wickets
THE LOWDOWN
ENGLAND
“The Ashes are still alive” We’ve heard that phrase before at Headingley immediately after England have completed a successful fourth innings run chase in the third Test of the Ashes and we did so again this year. On this occasion though, it was Chris Woakes who hit the winning runs with best mate Mark Wood at the other end as England reached their victory target of 251 with just three wickets remaining. Both players were making their first appearance of this Ashes series and they were sensational. Wood’s frightening pace was exactly the sort of ‘X-Factor’ weapon that England had lacked across the first two Tests and boy did they make the most of it. Woakes was his usual naggingly accurate self with the ball, drawing wickets before holding his nerve with bat.
Skipper Ben Stokes again made an enormous contribution with that bat, this time in the first innings as he significantly reduced what would have been a much higher deficit without his 80 runs. Moeen Ali took some crucial third innings wickets and got through the game successfully after missing the second Test with a heavily blistered finger. England now go to Manchester for the fourth Test with a chance to level the series and set up what would be an Ashes decider at the Kia Oval and arguably the biggest Test match in modern day history.
AUSTRALIA
Australia ended the third Test just three wickets away from retaining the Ashes. Unfortunately for them though, they also ended on the losing side and must go again at Emirates Old Trafford against a resurgent opponent. After the bowlers worked so hard to give their side a narrow first innings lead at Headingley, their batters let them down with a number of awful dismissals such as Marnus Labuschagne’s needless slog sweep on 33, caught on the boundary and Steve Smith’s lazy drive to short midwicket. David Warner continues to have no answer to Stuart Broad, whilst the tail could not handle Mark Wood’s pace, contributing next to no runs in both innings.
The likes of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins both deserved better, having picked up a five-wicket haul and six-wicket haul respectively across the contest. The same can be said for Mitchell Marsh, who came in as a replacement for the injured Cameron Green and contributed more than Green has all series so far, striking a magnificent 118 in the first innings to keep his side on top after the top order had fallen early. The injured Nathan Lyon’s replacement Todd Murphy suffered a trial by fire with Ben Stokes going hard at him, but he kept his composure to eventually dismiss the England captain. However, for him to only bowl two overs in the fourth innings was worrying from an Australian perspective, Lyon certainly would have bowled far more.
THE TEAM NEWS
ENGLAND
As has become the norm under Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, England have named their team in advance with one change made to the side that won at Headingley. Ollie Robinson, who suffered a back spasm in that Test has been replaced by Jimmy Anderson, the Lancashire legend coming back into the side with a point to prove on his home ground, bowling from his own end. Stuart Broad is set to play his fourth consecutive Test in this series and will form part of the oldest England bowling attack since 1928, whilst Moeen Ali will bat at three in order to accommodate Harry Brook in his favoured position of five.
Once again, there is no place even in the squad for Surrey wicket-keeper Ben Foakes as England continue to keep faith in Jonny Bairstow behind the stumps, whilst Dan Lawrence can count himself unlucky to miss out as the spare batter, with Moeen’s superior spin and experience giving him the edge.
AUSTRALIA
Australia have some big decisions to make in regards to their starting line-up. Most notably whether Mitchell Marsh keeps his place following that century in Leeds with first-choice all-rounder Cameron Green back fit. Both could play, but that would involve dropping David Warner, which is unlikely despite the long-time opener’s lack of form. In the bowling department, Scott Boland has surely played his last Ashes Test having not had the impact he would have wanted. Josh Hazlewood will replace him but the decision on whether to play Todd Murphy or not is a bigger conundrum.
The specialist spinner was hardly utilised at Headingley, which suggests that his captain did not have the necessary faith in the newcomer to perform. Combine that with him being a tail-ender and it’s easy to see him being replaced in a bit to bolster the batting. Michael Neser hit a big hundred for Glamorgan this past week and could get the nod if Australia opt for another pace bowler. However, if the tourists are looking for another spinner, then it wouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility for all-rounder Glenn Maxwell to be handed a shock call-up. Maxwell played a rare red ball fixture for Warwickshire in the County Championship last week, potentially adding fuel to the fire.
THE PREDICTION
The most important aspect of England’s victory in the third Test is that it’s given all of them further belief and the nation renewed belief that they can beat Australia and complete a famous comeback. The wave of momentum behind the team is now stronger than ever and you can guarantee that the North West crowd at Emirates Old Trafford will provide a cauldron of an atmosphere, further heaping pressure on the Australians. Nathan Lyon is a big miss for the tourists on a wicket than may well offer some good bounce for the spinners.
Mark Wood’s express pace serves as England’s trump card, scrambling the brains of Australia’s batters and causing them to make mistakes against other England bowlers such as Moeen, as was the case in the third innings at Headingley. James Anderson on his home ground is a frightening prospect for an Australia batting line-up suffering from key players like Warner and Marnus Labuschagne being short of runs. Every single neutral wants to see a level series and the Ashes decided in the fifth Test. With England riding the crest of a wave and Australia shaken, we’re backing those neutrals to get their wish in this fourth Test.
TIP: ENGLAND TO WIN
