Match abandoned due to rain
The rain has won the day sadly. It was forecast for most of the day and it simply didn't relent. The 3rd T20I has been abandoned and the two teams share the series 1-1. Australia won the 1st match, England replied with a superb 194-run chase to level the series at 1-1, but rain was the winner at Old Trafford and we'll not have a winner. Plenty of positives in both teams and they'll now look forward to the 5-match ODI series. The series starts on the 19th at Trent Bridge and we'll be back with all the action. For now, cheers and bye..
Phil Salt: Very proud of it (on winning the second T20I). As a team, when you lose the first one, you are always under pressure, The message to the boys was when we get pushed back, we come back harder and that's what we did. That partnership in Cardiff between Livi and Beth ... really pleased with the way we responded. Just disappointed we couldn't go on today. Just the way we are playing, the brand of cricket, when we can get on top, we can really put our foot down, then the Aussies found it really hard to defend in Cardiff. More than anything, it's the way we are playing our cricket. Very positive, we want to win bilateral series, it's gotten away from us here today. The more time we spend together as a group, the better position we will be in when those big tournaments roll around. I have enjoyed it (captaincy), it's different. It's for the first time in England shirt, I have been forced to look at the game slightly differently and have a bit more on my plate, For the most part, I have really enjoyed the challenge and having that added responsibility.
Liam Livingstone | Player of the Series: (What's pleased him the most?) Just been a bit more involved to be honest. Getting a chance with both bat and ball with a few boys being away, I am back enjoying my cricket. I have had a different environment, few younger faces and stuff, I have just really enjoyed my cricket. (Where should he bat?) I wanna be involved as much as I can in the game. I haven't always been able to do that lower down the order. That is what it is - it's a part of the role. I have tried to do it to the best of my ability. Anytime you get an opportunity to go up and try and influence the game a little bit more, I have always enjoyed that. I will bat wherever I am told to bat, I wanna play for England for as long as I can. Hopefully I have proved that maybe a little bit further higher up the order is probably better for me.
16:15 Local Time, 15:15 GMT, 20:45 IST: The umpires are out in the middle with the groundsmen. It's still raining, the umbrellas are up and we're hearing that the outfield is still very wet. The pitch and the entire square has been covered. Not a lot of water on the covers, but we could have a decision about play in a while
16:00 Local Time, 15:00 GMT, 20:30 IST: We're 15 minutes away from the inspection, but this band of rain has settled and that inspection looks highly unlikely now.
15:50 Local Time, 14:50 GMT, 20:20 IST: Uh oh.. The covers are being brought back, the forecast was for some rain and the groundstaff reckon it could be on its way
15:25 Local Time, 14:25 GMT, 19:55 IST: Inspection at 4:15 pm if there's no more rain. We've some live pictures with the covers been removed. The supersopper is doing its job as well, but it still looks damp with several grey clouds hanging around
15:15 Local Time, 14:15 GMT, 19:45 IST: Rain has stopped and the groundsmen are into their work now. Plenty of water on the outfield and the drying up process will take a while
kanwaljit singh: Will Harry Brook lead England? 'He has been named as their captain for the upcoming ODI series'
14:55 Local Time, 13:55 GMT, 19:25 IST: The cut-off time for a 5-over game is 5:46 pm. We do have plenty of time left, but the rain needs to stop first. We'll start losing overs from 3:30 pm
14:40 Local Time, 13:40 GMT, 19:10 IST: It is still raining and there is hardly any activity on the ground. Two supersoppers out on the ground and they haven't been pressed into action as yet. Looking very dull and grim at the moment.
14:05 Local Time, 13:05 GMT, 18:35 IST: The forecast ain't great for the next couple of hours, but if we're lucky, we could sneak in a curtailed game.
13:55 Local Time, 12:55 GMT, 18:25 IST: We don't have great news from OT. It's been a damp day with plenty of rainfall and it continues to rain . The toss is certainly going to be delayed. We have live pictures and one can clearly see rain falling. The pitch and the square has been well covered and the drainage is good here.
13:30 Local Time, 12:30 GMT, 18:00 IST: Liam Livingstone's all-round show and the coming of age of Jacob Bothell saw England overwhelm a challenging total of 193 with relative ease in the second T20i in Cardiff. We're into the final game of the series and we are in the heart of Lancashire at Old Trafford. Australia did rest some of their bowling stars for the second game and the experience or the lack of it showed as Livingstone tore into the middle overs and the support bowlers. With the series on the line, expect Australia to play a full strength squad for today's game
Squads:
Australia Squad: Matthew Short, Travis Head(c), Jake Fraser-McGurk, Josh Inglis(w), Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Cooper Connolly, Sean Abbott, Adam Zampa, Xavier Bartlett, Riley Meredith, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh
England Squad: Philip Salt(w/c), Will Jacks, Jordan Cox, Liam Livingstone, Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Adil Rashid, Saqib Mahmood, Reece Topley, Jofra Archer, Dan Mousley, John Turner, Josh Hull