Australia - 1st Innings - 527/7d (146 overs)
England - 2nd Innings - 37/3 (20.3 overs)
Australia - 2nd Innings - 172/7d (36 overs)
PLAY ABANDONED - MATCH DRAWN
ENGLAND RETAIN THE ASHES
The third Ashes test at Old Trafford may have been a rainy occasion but it was not going to spoil England's mood as they held out for a draw thanks to the rain to retain the Ashes series.
For the first time in the 2013 series Australia won the toss and decided to bat, Australia, with a heavy weight on their shoulders knowing that if they did not win this test England would retain the Ashes, seemed relaxed and confident with the bat. England failed to break them down and the 50 partnership between Watson and Rogers reinforced this early dominance. Although playing slow, Watson was happy to pluck away a single every now and then but he fell to Cook at slip after Tim Bresnan's good length delivery teased Watson and gave England their first wicket.
It was unsurprising that England with the momentum of the Watson wicket, went on to take another when Khawaja fell for just six runs and Rogers good innings came to an end after a big lbw appeal was given out from a full length delivery from Swann. Once again Swann was showing why he is one of the best spinners in the world. But then came that hero that Australia needed in the previous two tests, although his form so far in the series has been questionable, Michael Clarke put on a superb 187, spending just over 7 hours at the crease. He was kindly helped along by Steven Smith who put on a classy 89 to put Australia on the front foot.
After declaring for 527, Australia needed early wickets but were becoming frustrated at being unable to break down England. But after a slight nick from Root that found Haddin, Australia too found that momentum and dismissed Trott and also the night watchmen Bresnan shortly after. However there couldn't be a series where Kevin Pietersen wasn't in the spotlight, after two disappointing tests by his standards, Pietersen had a point to prove, and after getting lucky early on we started to witness the true Kevin Pietersen. He reached 113 before being dismissed, Ian Bell also continued his brilliant form by adding another 60 to the total.
England were eventually bowled out for 368 but the rain spoiled the last two days of play in Manchester and in turn spoiled any chance of Australia pulling off a glorious comeback. They declared for 172 to try and beat the rain and bowl England out and it seemed like a small possibility when Cook was dismissed for a duck, with a poor review to follow. Trott then went cheaply and Pietersen followed but it wasn't enough for Australia who left it too little too late as the match ended a draw and England went on to retain the Ashes.
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