AUS vs ENG: "I'd Be Very Pleased" - Josh Hazlewood Hopeful Of Rain Helping Australia In Manchester

Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood wishes rain to play spoilsport in the final two days of the Manchester Test so that they can maintain their 2-1 lead in the Ashes series. Australia are 113/4 on day 3 of the fourth Test still trailing by 162 runs.

England took a 275-run lead after scoring a mammoth first innings total of 592. Ben Stokes (51) and Jonny Bairstow (99*) played their part in taking their team to that total.

Josh Hazlewood addressed the reporters after the third day’s play in Manchester saying that he will be very pleased if the weather intervenes and saves Australia from losing this Test match.

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It Would Be Great If We Lose A Few Overs Here And There: Josh Hazlewood

“I’d be very pleased,. It’s obviously forecast but forecasts can change all the time. Obviously, rain and light plays a big part in cricket and has done forever. So, yeah, it’d be great to lose a few overs here and there, and make our job a little easier if I’m hanging in there” Josh Hazlewood admitted.

The weather forecast for the final two days of play in Manchester does not look very promising. The forecast looks bleak on Saturday while there is a bit more rain expected on Sunday. To add to that there is a rain threat on both these days as well. Bairstow while talking to the reporters spoke about the uncertainty of the weather.

“The weather is the weather, and I’m not Michael Fish,” Jonny Bairstow said, referencing the famous BBC forecaster of the 1980s and 1990s.

“Coming in tomorrow, if there is a bit of weather around, maybe some overheads, you’d like to hope we’re able to create some chances. The weathermen have been right, the weathermen have been wrong, who knows what’s going to happen? We’ll still turn up with the same mindset and that will be to try and take another six wickets” he further added.

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Mark Wood struck thrice in quick succession to leave Australia reeling at 113/4 by the end of the third day’s play. The likes of Usman Khawaja (18), David Warner (28), and Steve Smith (17), Australia’s big guns are all back in the pavilion.

Australia still trails by another 162 runs as England are hunting six wickets to win the fourth Test and level the Ashes series.

If England wins the Ashes series, they will become only the second side to win the Ashes from 2-0. Australia under Don Bradman became the first team to win an Ashes series with a 2-0 deficit in 1936/37.

Also Read: AUS vs ENG: Ben Stokes Hints At Playing Aggressive Cricket In Manchester Due To Bad Weather Forecast