Ben Stokes’ declaration gamble, THAT Alex Carey dismissal of Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali’s blistered finger… SIX MOMENTS when the urn was lost as Australia retain the Ashes

Australia retained the Ashes as rain ensured there would be no final Test decider at the Oval.

England’s dreams of a legendary Ashes comeback were dampened as the Old Trafford turf was flooded and ensured the visitors would steal a draw in the fourth Test.

But England can’t just blame the bad weather as the urn prepares to head back to Australia because there have been mishits, dropped catches, and various fumbles on the way.

Mail Sport’s David Coverdale discusses six key moments where England lost the urn in the Ashes. 

The urn will head back to Australia after rain ensured the fourth Ashes Test ended in a draw

But England can’t just blame the rain because there have been mishits, dropped catches, and various fumbles on the way

BEN’S DECLARATION GAMBLE

Joe Root was unbeaten on 112 and, along with Ollie Robinson, had just taken 20 off a Nathan Lyon over when Ben Stokes called England in on 393 for eight in their first innings of the first Test.

The bold declaration gave them four overs to bowl at Australia that evening at Edgbaston, but Usman Khawaja and David Warner survived.

Although England still gained a first-innings lead of seven, they were left to rue the runs they could have added on the first day as the Aussies chased 281 to win a Test they had looked like losing.

Ben Stokes called England in on 393 for eight in their first innings of the first Test

DROPS AND FUMBLES 

England would have been out of sight at Edgbaston had they taken their chances. Jonny Bairstow should have stumped Cameron Green for a duck and the Aussie went on to hit 38, then Bairstow twice dropped Alex Carey, who scored 66. 

Stuart Broad bowled Usman Khawaja with a no-ball and the opener progressed from 112 to 141. In Australia’s second innings, Root and Stokes put down difficult chances to dismiss Pat Cummins and Lyon respectively, as the Aussie pair went on to win the match with an unbroken ninth-wicket partnership of 55.

England’s fielding woes continued at Lord’s, where they spilled five chances in a 43-run defeat. Ollie Pope shelling Warner cost 46 runs and Jimmy Anderson dropping Khawaja cost 58.

Joe Root (left) put down a difficult chance as England’s catching capabilities were called into question at various times in the series

MO’S BLISTERED FINGER

Moeen Ali answered an England SOS to come out of retirement and replace Jack Leach for this series. But he managed to bowl just seven overs on the tense final day of the first Test because of his blistered spinning finger, a result of his lack of recent red-ball cricket. 

Moeen then missed the defeat at Lord’s, when England went in without a frontline spinner. Although Mo recovered to play a full part at Leeds and Manchester, thanks largely to a gel made of honey he was sent by an NHS worker, the damage had been done.

Moeen Ali’s blistered finger was a key factor in England’s defeat at Lord’s as he was unable to play

HAPPY HOOKING AT LORD’S

England were on course to get close to — or even go past — Australia’s first-innings score of 416 at Lord’s until some brainless batting on the second evening.

With the injured Lyon off the field, the Aussies resorted to a bouncer barrage after the hosts had progressed serenely to 188 for one.

However, Pope, Ben Duckett and Root fell for the obvious trap, gifting their wickets with hook shots as England lost all three for 34 runs. They were all out for 325 — a first-innings deficit of 91 — and were ultimately left with too much to do despite Stokes’s heroic 155 in the second innings.

CAREY’S QUICK THINKING

While England only had themselves to blame for their dire predicament at Lord’s, a miraculous run chase was on the cards when Bairstow joined Stokes at the crease on the final day. 

Yet Bairstow was soon sent on his way following one of the most controversial Ashes dismissals of all time. 

Leaving his crease thinking a Green over had ended, Bairstow’s stumps were thrown down by Australia wicketkeeper Carey and he was given out. Whether it was dozy batting or quick-thinking fielding, it was a defining moment of the Test and the series.

Alex Carey’s (left) quick-thinking caused one of the most controversial Ashes dismissals of all time

RAIN ON ENGLAND’S PARADE

England were beginning to believe they could pull off their greatest Ashes comeback after a famous three-wicket victory at Headingley. A dominant first three days at Old Trafford followed, with Stokes’s side holding a first-innings lead of 275.

But with Australia teetering on the brink of an innings defeat at 113 for four on Friday night, the heavens opened in Manchester over the weekend.

While 30 overs were possible on Saturday, England were only able to pick up one more wicket. And when Sunday was wiped out completely by rain, England’s Ashes hopes were washed away.