England vs Australia 4th Test, Ashes 2023: Old Trafford Manchester Pitch Report, Team Records at Manchester

Old Trafford Manchester Pitch takes the centrestage ahead of 4th Ashes Test. The Ben Stokes-led England team are now ready to face arch-rivals Australia in the fourth Test match of the Ashes 2023 starting from 19 July, 2023 at the Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester. Hosts England came back fighting in a remarkable manner with a fantastic 3-wicket victory over Australia in the third Test match to keep themselves alive in the fierce Ashes 2023 battle. However, the visiting Australian team still have a lead of 2-1 in the five-match Test series.

Old Trafford Manchester Pitch Report

Historically, Old Trafford has been known for its batting-friendly conditions, boasting a pitch that allows the ball to come onto the bat smoothly. As a result, winning the toss often prompts teams to opt for batting first, and a significant majority of matches at this venue have been won by the team batting first. On average, the first innings score reaches an impressive 332, but in the second innings, it slightly drops to around 270 and the same is expected for ENG vs AUS 4th Test Ashes 2023.

However, as the match progresses, the pitch undergoes changes, developing footmarks that add challenges for batters facing spinners in the third and fourth innings. Consequently, the scores in these later innings tend to be lower, with an average of 225 in the third innings and a mere 168 in the fourth innings. Moreover, the weather forecast indicates rain on the first day and persistent overcast conditions throughout the game, suggesting that consistent fast bowling could play a decisive role and be significantly rewarded.

According to BBC.com, there is a 41% chance of precipitation at 11 am on Wednesday, the first day of the Test, with the good news being that the probability of rain decreases as the afternoon progresses, suggesting there should be close to a full day’s play at least. Day two (Thursday) appears the most promising, with sunny intervals and minimal rain in the forecast. Day three (Friday) raises some concern as there might be light rain showers in the morning, but chances decrease in the afternoon. However, days four and five are worrisome, with a 70% chance of precipitation throughout Saturday and similar conditions expected on Sunday afternoon. Hopes are high for improved conditions over the weekend, but it’s expected that England will push harder to set the game up in the first three days.

Manchester Test Record

• Teams batting first have won 32 Tests at the Emirates Old Trafford, chasing teams have won 16 games and 35 Test matches have been drawn.
• England have managed to win as many as 32 Test matches on this ground and have lost a total of 15 games.
• Australia have registered a total of 9 victories in Manchester and also ended up losing 7 Tests while 15 games have ended as draws.
• During the most recent Ashes 2019 Test match at this venue, Australia defeated England by 185 runs.