Wild weather plays havoc on in fourth Ashes Test with heavy bails needed to combat Manchester wind

Wild winds at Old Trafford led to the fourth Test being played without bails for a time, before heavy duty replacements, with screws for extra weight, were used to combat the English summer.

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A blustery, rainy day in manchester reduced the first day of the fourth Tests to just 44 overs.

In that time Steve Smith had ample chance to prove that his absence through concussion has done little to blunt his technique, as he finished the day unbeaten having taken Australia to 3-170 at stumps.

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We knew Smith would never change. But here are five things we did learn under moody skies in northern England.

YOU CAN PLAY WITH NO BAILS

The wind, as much as the rain, played havoc at Old Trafford, so much so the umpires took the unusual step of removing the bails after they kept falling off. It led to much discussion about “what happens if … ?”.

New, heavier bails were required such was the strength of the wind at Old Trafford.

They tried to put them back on, but it again caused a stop, when Marnus Labuschagne thought he heard them fall.

"My bad,” the Aussie said after being questioned by Joe Root. Eventually new bails, with screws in them, were brought on. The screws were easily visible, protruding from the end, but must have met all requirements.

THE BEST UMPS MAKE A DIFFERENCE

The ICC made a bold call to divert Kumar Dharamasena from the TV umpire’s chair at Old Trafford on to the field after the disasters of the first three Tests, with records for overturned umpiring decisions equalled.

It was a good move, with Sri Lankan and South African Marais Erasmus on point during an interrupted day one.

Umpires Marais Erasmus and Kumar Dharmasena are the best in the business.

There were three reviews, two involving Marcus Harris, an out and a not out, which they got right. The best though was a not out from Dharamsena after a hooping yorker from Ben Stokes just before tea levelled Travis Head.

It pitched outside leg stump, as Hawkeye showed after England went upstairs.

JUST 300 WOULD DO

With 170 on the board, Australia is within sight of the magic number coach Justin Langer made clear before the game.

“Every time we've got 300 (in the first innings) we've at the very least won the Test match over the last 20 Test matches,” he said. As Test cricket this year has become bowler dominated, it’s a score that should win most times.

In 22 completed Test matches around the world in 2019, there have only been nine scores of 400 or more, and 21 scores of 200 or less all out, including four of 100 or less all out. England has been responsible for two of those, including just 67 at Headingley. So 300 should go well.

GET EXCITED GARRY

Seven of the last nine five-wicket hauls in Test matches at Old Trafford have come from spinners.

It was a day for keeping out of the elements for Nathan Lyon, but his time will come in this Test.

After an ordinary first-over, England spinner Jack Leach got one to grip and spin, and take the outside edge of Marnus Labuschagne’s bat. It flew past first slip, but the spin was on again two balls later when Leach fizzed a bouncing ball past Labuschagne’s outside edge.

With Mitchell Starc back in the Aussie team, making footmarks for Nathan Lyon to aim at, the man they call “Gazza” looks to be right in this game.

DON’T FRET THE WEATHER

RAIN delays are expected in England, but so far haven’t been bad enough to prevent some epic cricket.

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There were significant stoppages at Lord’s, which only created a stirring draw that finished at 7:30pm on the final day.

The wall of wet that continually swept across Old Trafford on day one, could be happening on day two as well. But if the local forecast is any guide, the sun will come out, not tomorrow, but on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

With these batting line-ups, that should be plenty of time.

Originally published as Wild weather plays havoc on in fourth Ashes Test with heavy bails needed to combat Manchester wind