The Fourth Ashes Test commences this on September 4th at 7.30pm AEST, live and exclusively and in HD on Nine and 9GEM and streamed live on 9Now.
Following a miracle win in the third Test in Headingley, England has found the momentum it needed, having not won an Ashes Test since 2015. It was Ben Stokes who once again played hero, replicating his World Cup Final form as he defied the odds and record books, to hold on for one of the most memorable finishes to a cricket match in history.
The Ashes clash after huge audiences watched the final day’s play in the third Test on 9Gem. As England managed to score the runs needed, Nine reported a national average audience of 1m watching the first session on 9Gem on Sunday August 25.
A remarkable 694,000 were watching the second session until after midnight.
The cricket audiences gave 9Gem a Sunday night share of 15.8%.
The historic Old Trafford Cricket Ground serves as the battleground for the fourth Test, with the confirmation that former Australian captain and run machine Steve Smith will return to the side following a concussion suffered at the hands of a Jofra Archer bouncer. All eyes will be on him to see if he can reclaim the form he exhibited in the first three Tests.
Australian selectors surprised many by dropping Usman Khawaja, opting to stick with the hardy Marnus Labuschagne in the 12-man squad, while the fast bowling rotation continues as Mitchell Starc comes back in to replace James Pattinson. Australia remains only one win away from once again securing The Ashes for the first time in England since 2001.
England have shifted their much-maligned batting lineup, with batsman Jason Roy expected to shift to the no.4 position, while journeyman Joe Denly has slotted into the opening spot alongside Rory Burns. The newly-confident home side has not minced words this past week, with English linchpin Stuart Broad warning Smith they will not hold back upon his return.
