Dropped catches, no-balls, broken bodies and spirit: where it all went wrong for England at Old Trafford

The middle session on day two of the fourth Ashes Test will be remembered for Steve Smith’s class, Tim Paine’s revival, the hosts’ error-strewn capitulation and a tightening grip on the urn in Aussie hands.

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After their Headingley miracle, England rubbed salt in Australian wounds by emerging from their sheds to celebrate with beers in the middle of the oval.

Jack Leach, the other hero of the astonishing one-wicket victory, drew roars of applause as he recreated his single which levelled the scores and allowed Ben Stokes to hit the winning runs.

But there was no similar re-enactment, after play on day two at Old Trafford, of his defining contribution to that day’s play, a series-changing error which crystallised England’s horror, error-strewn session where the wheels fell off for the home team.

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From the very moment when Australia resumed at 2-245 after lunch, it was clear England already had the wobbles.

Stuart Broad, England’s best performer, can’t hide his disappointment after an easy catch is put down.

Two and a half hours later, Australia had added 124 runs for the loss of no wicket while England stumbled from one blunder to the next and finished the session with a bowling attack that was both emotionally and, in the case of broken star Ben Stokes, physically ruined.

The enormity of that session – and the 145-run partnership with Paine - was not lost on the chief architect of England’s unhappiness, Steve Smith.

“It was a huge moment,” Australia’s double centurion said after play.

The big screen at Old Trafford put England’s misery in to sharp perspective, a no-ball saving Smith.

“We kept talking in the middle about building that partnership, just keep trying to put as many runs on the board as possible.”

It took just four balls after lunch for the first major mistake, with under-pressure batsman Jason Roy spilling the simplest of chances at second slip to give Tim Paine a life on 9.

It set the tone for a nightmare session which will ultimately cost England the Ashes.

Little more than four overs later came the biggest flashpoint of the match, and a gaffe that will haunt Leach for the rest of his career.

Ben Stokes looked ruined after his Headingley exploits and punishment from Australia’s batsmen.

England’s newest cult hero produced a peach of a delivery to draw an edge from Smith – which was gobbled up by Stokes at first slip to send the Australian run machine packing for ‘just’ 118.

However, he – along with the rest of England’s playing XI – looked on in horror as the big screens around the ground showed Leach’s front foot landing in front of the popping crease, granting Smith a crucial reprieve; one which would cost the hosts a further 93 runs from the world’s No. 1 batsman alone.

Captain Joe Root dragged his team into a huddle and animatedly tore into them in a desperate bid to ensure his team didn’t lose focus.

Joe Root tried to rally his troops as the match slipped away from them but to no avail.

It was too late for that.

Shoulders sagged, Smith refocused and Paine grew another foot.

The chance to grind England into the dirt had presented itself and they didn’t spurn it.

But worse was to come for Root as he turned to his magic man Stokes.

England’s Superman just 12 days ago when he pulled off the unthinkable in Leeds, Stokes lasted just five deliveries into his second spell before pulling up lame after aggravating a shoulder complaint that would prevent him from rejoining the bowling attack for the rest of the day.

No longer sauntering about with Viv Richards-like swagger, Stokes cut a disconsolate figure as he covered his face with his cap on the walk back to the dressing room: the difference in body language telling the tale of the two Tests.

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He would return to field, but not to bowl. With a quick three-day turnaround between the fourth and fifth Tests, the health of each side’s fast bowlers is paramount.

England could ill afford to run ageing paceman Stuart Broad or the overworked Jofra Archer into the ground.

But that’s exactly what Smith – and later Mitchell Starc - did, punishing Broad (27 overs, 3-97) and Archer (27 overs, 0-97) in a soul-destroying display.

Even if the rain prevents England from coughing up the Ashes in Manchester, on all evidence before us it would take another miracle to save them from doing so at The Oval.

Originally published as Dropped catches, no-balls, broken bodies and spirit: where it all went wrong for England at Old Trafford