England’s Ashes challenge ends after mistakes and memories made in name of Bazball | Andy Bull

There were selection mistakes and preparation was a muddle but there was also Broad’s bowling and Stokes blazing away

The fifth day of the fourth Test ended the same way every other in this series has begun, with England having a kickabout on the outfield. The difference, this time, was that it was lashing down with rain while they played. The only other people outdoors at Old Trafford were underneath umbrellas and for a time it seemed like England were trying to con everyone else into believing the conditions were fit for the 1pm start the umpires had promised earlier in the morning. As the rain became heavier and, one by one, more players and coaches came over to join them, it became clear it wasn’t really the point at all.

They were just out there enjoying themselves in the wet, because what else was there to do on a rainy day at Old Trafford? They looked like a group of lads on a stag do in Newquay, assistant coach David Saker the one middle-aged tagalong who is going to drink everyone under the table later in the evening.