Big call for Aussies as Ashes slipping away

David Warner is not sure whether Australia will bat on or declare today as they attempt to engineer a victory against England at Old Trafford.

Needing to win the third Test to keep alive their hopes of regaining the Ashes, the tourists were 172 for seven with a lead of 331 runs when bad light and then rain ended yesterday’s fourth day.

That would appear sufficient to prompt a declaration and a push for the 10 wickets required, but Warner was not convinced.

“We’d have liked to put more runs on the board and then have a crack tonight but at some stage tomorrow we’ll do that,” he said.

“That’s what happens these days, the umpires make the [bad light] decision and [Alastair Cook] clearly didn’t want to bowl the spinners any more.

“I think we’d have kept batting, Michael [Clarke, captain] was out there so he’d decide what to do.”

Any run chase would be unlikely to be pursued with too much vigour, with a draw enough for England to retain the urn.

But wicketkeeper Matt Prior said: “The key is getting through the new ball because the moment the ball goes soft it’s a different story, it doesn’t bounce as much and spins slower.”

The biggest cheer of yesterday’s play came when Warner, after a sparky 41, was caught in the deep by his Champions Trophy sparring partner Joe Root.

Warner’s infamous jab at the young England batsman in a Birmingham bar has made him the pantomime villain and he said: “I’m copping a little bit on the [boundary] fence but you’ve just got to keep smiling, enjoy the crowd and embrace it. The crowd have been very vocal. They’ve been a bit quiet in the morning though, probably hung over from the day before.”