Ashes 2019 LIVE: Australia retain the Ashes after clinching victory in tense fourth Test
Follow all the reaction from Old Trafford
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Your support makes all the difference.Australia have retained the Ashes after defeating England by 185 runs in a thrilling fourth Test.
England began the day in survival mode, needing 383 runs to win with Rory Burns and Joe Root already dismissed. Joe Denly and Jason Roy made a strong stand in the opening hour, however, Pat Cummins then tore through the top-order to leave England teetering on the brink.
Jack Leach and Craig Overton produced a valiant ninth-wicket partnership to leave Australia nervous with little over an hour of the fifth day remaining before part-time leg-spinner Marnus Labuschagne finally broke the deadlock. Josh Hazlewood trapped Stuart Broad lbw moments later to secure the urn. Follow all the reaction live:
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The final match of the series begins on Thursday at The Oval.
"I'm two hundreds from two games at The Oval. It is a place I like batting" says Steve Smith after being presented the player-of-the-match award.
That's pretty ominous.
Alison Mitchell sums up the achievement of this Australian team perfectly. After the sandpaper fiasco they were in a really bad place.
For Justin Langer, as coach, and Tim Paine, as captain, to get them through that period and then achieve something that hasn't been done in 18 years is remarkable.
Australia coach Justin Langer on Sky Sports:
"The players take all the credit, but a lot of hard work and planning goes into this. This series has been incredible for Test cricket and it's nice to get the job done."
Australia win the test match and retain the Ashes at Old Trafford, here's how it happened:
More reaction from Justin Langer:
"We kept thinking about 2004, winning in India after many years, and we were really disciplined then. We kept thinking if we can expose techniques, that's the best way to go about it.
"Here, with a very dry surface, and the work Starc has put in, we thought he'd do a great job, and he did.
"We've got the best fast bowler in the world and the best Test batsman in the world. I thought Virat Kohli was the best batsman I've ever seen because of the way he plays in all forms, but Steve Smith... that's another level.
"He's a great problem solver. His hunger for the game, I've never seen anything like it."
It's been a fantastic test match but England just fell short of another miracle. Australia were too good, they were disciplined and destructive for all five days.
The Ashes are gone but England have a chance to level the series at The Oval.
The fifth and final test of the summer begins on Thursday, when we'll strap in for this crazy ride once again.
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