Australia woke up to the knowledge the Ashes will stay in England’s hands for a third series in a row for the first time in 57 years yesterday but the prevailing mood in the nation’s media was still more of hope than despair.
The fact that Australia were bowling for victory when the Manchester rain brought a premature end to the third test was encouragement enough after the nadir of the second test defeat at Lord’s which gave England a 2-0 lead.
With the Old Trafford match ending in a draw, that lead was enough for
