BUMBLE AT THE TEST: Light would have been good enough for Michael Holding, keen golfers Ricky Ponting and Mark Butcher get in the swing… and it’ll be fine on the final day

England’s prospects of levelling the Ashes were just about alive after Joe Root claimed the only wicket of a rain-ruined fourth day at Emirates Old Trafford.

Just 30 overs were possible during a gloomy afternoon, with the morning and evening sessions wiped out by the weather, as Australia finished 61 runs behind on 214 for five.

With the forecast dreadful again for the fifth and final day, England badly needed to make inroads but hit a brick wall as Marnus Labuschagne converted his overnight 44 into a vital 111.

At 2-1 down England need to find a way through the showers to square the ledger and force a decider at the Oval next week.

Here, Mail Sport columnist David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd cast his eye on a rain-hit fourth day of the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford.

Umpires would not allow fast bowler Mark Wood to bowl in the gloomy conditions

Light would have been good enough for Holding 

Mark Wood was about to come into the attack when the umpires intervened to say that the light was not good enough. 

Ben Stokes then had to turn to the spin of Moeen Ali and Joe Root. 

The floodlights were already on but I have to say that, having played here for over 20 years and spent much of my life here, this was a normal day in Manchester. 

Michael Holding, Andy Roberts et al would have all have bowled in these conditions.

Ponting and Butcher get in the swing

Golf preparation is catching on, with England preparing for this epic series with some rounds up at Loch Lomond and the Australians teed off at Formby. 

The Sky Sports team followed suit by sending Ricky Ponting and Mark Butcher to Hoylake early on Saturday morning. 

Both of them are keen golfers of course, if not a little short off the tee! 

Though I must admit that they’re pretty good. Ponting plays off handicap two and Butcher off six. I play off 12 so bring it on!

More bad weather is forecast for Sunday as England seek to keep their Ashes hopes alive

It’ll be fine on last day 

So we move into the final day. England have to get a result. 

The weather forecast at the moment is awful but I’ve seen these weather patterns before at Old Trafford. 

We’ll be fine. 

Remember, you heard it here first…

All out at the Inn 

I had my last hurrah at the Circus Tavern on Portland Street but sadly missed the landlord Barry, who was away at a Rod Stewart concert in Marbella. 

So I trotted around to the City Arms but landlord Mark was having a day off! 

It was a waste of time then popping around to Briton’s Protection because Mark’s the landlord there too.

England were frustrated for a long period by Marnus Labuschagne on rain-hit fourth day

Aussies come through testing time

When play eventually started with heavy cloud overhead, lights on and sultry conditions, a raucous atmosphere welcomed Jimmy Anderson’s first over with high expectations of wickets aplenty from the crowd who had waited patiently. 

That should have been a real test but nothing happened except that Australia played splendidly, given the situation, before Labuschagne was snared by Joe Root to give England something to shout about.