Australia retain The Ashes: cricket betting news & odds after fourth Test

Australia have retained the Ashes after winning a nerve-shredding fourth Test at Old Trafford to take a 2-1 lead in the series.

The final day started with England on 18-2, needing to bat out 98 overs to salvage a draw, which was 18-5 at the start of play, or reach a target of 365, which was as big as 40-1. Australia were 1-4 at stumps on day four.

Jason Roy (31) was the first casualty before third Test hero Ben Stokes fell for only one run and Australia went as short as 1-33 for victory after reducing the hosts to 93-5.

A valiant display from England's lower-order batsmen, most notably Jack Leach (12) and Craig Overton (21), who faced a combined 166 balls, gave Joe Root's men hope of taking the series to the final Test and the draw was just 7-4 with 30 overs remaining.

But skipper Tim Paine rotated his attack, allowing Marnus Labuschagne to dismiss Leach before Josh Hazlewood sealed the win, pinning Overton lbw.

Pat Cummins proved the pick of the Aussie bowlers with 4-43, chipping away at an England side who batted for 91.3 overs and reached 197 all out on the fifth day in Manchester.

The final Test begins at the Oval on Thursday, with England rated 11-8 to win and level the series, the draw is 9-2 and Australia can be backed at 6-5 to seal a 3-1 win.

Bet365 offer 12-5 that England avenge their Ashes upset by reclaiming the urn in Australia in 2021 with the hosts 8-13.

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