England ready to work hard for final Ashes push
England batting coach Marcus Trescothick knows his team will have to work hard to pry Australia’s last five wickets and clinch a series-levelling victory on the final day of the fourth Ashes Test in Manchester.
England v Australia, Scorecard
England head into the final day at Old Trafford with a 61-run lead over their rivals and need to claim Australia’s remaining five wickets in quick succession – and before any potential weather interruptions – if they are to level the series at 2-2.
It’s a task that Trescothick knows won’t be easy and the former England opener is urging his side to use the same patience that allowed them to dismiss centurion Marnus Labuschagne late on a rain-interrupted fourth day.
“We know how good a player he (Labuschagne) is. It’s a big, big player out of the way on a decent pitch,” Trescothick said.
“So we’ve still got a decent amount of work to do, it’s not going to be a case of turning up and the ball is going to swing around with a new ball all over the place and nip about, and we’ll roll them over in 10 overs.
“I think we’re going to need a bit more time and a bit more graft than that, but there’s one less person that we have to knock over, which is important.”
And that’s Stumps 🏏
The Ashes hangs in the balance with only 30 overs of play possible on Day 4 due to persistent rains 🌧#WTC25 | #ENGvAUS | 📝: https://t.co/oMvTUfmA5F pic.twitter.com/VmBHPfrL5F
— ICC (@ICC) July 22, 2023
Much of Australia’s hopes will rest with their unbeaten batters, with all-rounders Mitch Marsh (31*) and Cameron Green (3*) currently at the crease with just wicket-keeper Alex Carey and the bowlers remaining.
Labuschagne – who stroked his first Ashes century away from home on Saturday – has faith in Marsh and Green to get the job done for Australia on Sunday and believes the pair can help the side clinch a draw and retain the urn in what will be a crucial final day in Manchester.
“Seeing him (Marsh) bat, even in the one-dayers, and seeing him bat in the nets, and the confidence he has in his game at the moment, I definitely had no doubt when he came in (to the Test side) the way he was going to play,” Labuschagne said.
Video World Test Championship 02 Jun 23 03:12 Marnus Labuschagne on preparations for WTC Final and the Ashes Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne on how he is preparing for the ICC World Test Championship Final and the Ashes
“The confidence he has in his own game … He’s got so much trust in the way he’s playing. When it is like that, it makes you a dangerous player.
“Cameron’s probably more of a steady-build type of (player).
“He’s still young, he’s still learning his trade. This is his first time in these conditions. With the IPL there wasn’t heaps of time to adjust but I think he’s doing a good job.
“Tomorrow is going to be the perfect scenario for him.”
