Root has kept sunny side up ...now Stokes must deliver a real scorcher

ENGLAND will turn up at Old Trafford today praying that they get a final chance to keep their Ashes dreams alive.

- DEAN WILSON

They have pushed and probed and dominated the fourth Test from the start, but they remain hostages to fortune when it comes to the weather.

And on 214-5, still 61 behind, Australia are not giving up their series lead without a fight.

Luckily for England they have plenty of players ready to scrap for every last crumb and none of them more so than Joe Root.

Root stepped up on day four to make something of the 30 overs of action they managed to squeeze in between the rain, edging England that little bit closer to their goal.

The occasional off-spinner has long been a much more dangerous proposition than a mere part-timer, and he showed his all-round value with the huge wicket of centurion Marnus Labuschagne - just when it looked like the Aussies might see out the entire session without damage.

Labuschagne and Mitch Marsh had kept England at bay for 26 overs with wicket-taking chances pretty thin on the ground, but the removal of the former for 111 was a big win for Ben Stokes' side.

Cameron Green almost fell to Root straight after but was dropped off a sharp chance at short-leg by Harry Brook from an inside edge.