Australia retained the urn after no play was once conceivable on day 5 at Old Trafford because of the rainy climate, leaving England trailing 2-1 within the sequence forward of the general Test at The Oval, which begins on Thursday.
“Rarely could the Ashes have been secured in more hollow circumstances, with almost two days of rain saving Australia from what appeared certain defeat,” wrote Malcolm Conn within the Sydney Morning Herald.
Despite the instances of the draw, Conn, like different Australian cricket scribes, was once now not about to let England off the hook for being down within the sequence heading to Manchester after dropping the primary two Tests at Edgbaston and Lords.
“Despite being robbed of victory by the weather, England have only themselves to blame for being on the wrong side of history,” Conn added.
“England were in charge of the first Test at Edgbaston before the cult of baseball resulted in an over-optimistic declaration and reckless batting.”
Gideon Haigh, writing within the Australian, was once kinder to the English however similarly cautious of any form of celebrations over the retention of the Ashes.
“The fantasy of two-all going to The Oval had been enchanting to both sets of fans; only the dimmest partisans so crave trophies as to be gratified by non-results,” he wrote.
“Alas for England, a little Australian edge in experience had already stood them in good stead through two nipping finishes…”
Haigh went on to sign up for others in suggesting that the holders’ benefit in an Ashes sequence, the place they preserve the urn if the sequence is drawn, be revisited.
“How to explain to the uninitiated the Oval Test’s weird hybrid character, of being ‘live’ where the outcome of the series is concerned, but ‘dead’ in the context of the Ashes?” he requested.
“I know cricket’s not meant to make sense. But it might, on occasion, at least try to do so.”