Former England cricketer David Llyod feels although the Australia were on their knees in the fourth Test and it was washed out, the visitors deserved to retain the Ashes.
Australia retained the Ashes after rain prevented any play on the final day of the fourth test against England at Old Trafford.
“For all the problems that would be perceived with the Australian cricket team, they came into Old Trafford with a 2-1 series lead,” Lloyd said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“We can’t forget that and it was England who had to make all the run in this Test.
“Australia parked the bus, filled the team full of batters and didn’t play a spinner.
“By whatever means, they got the result which means that retain the Ashes and that’s what it’s all about.
“You move on to The Oval and both teams will be wanting to pump it up and win the match.
“England will want to win to make it 2-2 and say they were the better side whilst Australia will want to go 3-1 and say, ‘I told you so’.
“(Pat Cummins) would’ve rather retained the Ashes with a resounding win but nevertheless… England couldn’t get over the line because of the weather.”
Australia has an insurmountable 2-1 lead after the draw with one test left. England needed to win the five-match series to take the urn off holder Australia.
A shootout for glory in the fifth test at the Oval starting Thursday was on the cards if there had been enough time for England to convert its dominance in Manchester with Australia 214-5 in its second innings and 61 runs behind the hosts.
The fifth-day washout handed the urn to Australia as the most pessimistic forecasts came to pass and relentless rain meant the players never made it to the middle in a miserable weekend for England. Only 30 overs had been possible on Saturday.
“They were absolutely on their knees, Australia,” he said.
“It was complete mayhem because there were arms flying everywhere. There wasn’t a clue who was captain of the side and (Cummins) certainly went AWOL.
“(If I was Stokes), I would’ve kept them out there and done exactly that.
“You can’t predict the weather because we have had a shocking day (in Manchester).”
The fifth and final Test of the series will be played at the Oval on July 27.
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