This is the 22nd part in a series recounting the 2005 Ashes, as it occurred a decade ago.

Morning

After Day 3 was filled with delays, players and fans are hopeful that Day 4 will have at least fewer interruptions, if there must be any. England take the new ball early in the morning, and Flintoff quickly strikes, getting Martyn to pull to Collingwood. Clarke now joins Hayden at the crease, the opener wanting to add more runs to his century. After the 84th over, the umpires again examine the cloudy conditions, and offer the light; predictably, the batsmen choose to play on. They bring Australia to 300, putting them in position for a substantial first-innings lead. A light drizzle arrives in south London, but play continues given the circumstances for this Test. Hayden and Clarke add boundaries, before adopting a strategy of getting singles, but Flintoff eventually gets the opener lbw for 138. In his next over, the all-rounder dismisses Katich the same way, and momentum starts to shift back to England. Gilchrist scores a pair of boundaries off one Hoggard over, as the keeper and Clarke take Australia to 350. But Hoggard keeps his composure and gets Gilchrist lbw on the last ball before lunch, Australia 356/6.

Afternoon

Hoggard started the 102nd over getting Gilchrist, and nearly ends with Clarke’s wicket, but Geraint Jones drops. His very next over, the fast bowler gets Clarke for 25, as momentum starts to shift back to England. Australia start to hesitate, resulting in a 10-ball duck for Shane Warne, and later a six-ball duck for Glenn McGrath. Lee and Tait struggle to form a long-lasting partnership, with Lee quickly gone for 6. After getting to 300/3, Australia hand England a first innings lead.

Australia finish the first innings 367 all out.

The poor light continues, with Lee only bowling one over to start. However, Warne’s first over gets Strauss after just one run. It’s exactly the start Australia need, but in the middle of the spin bowler’s next over, the umpires offer the light again, and Vaughan takes it. There will eventually be an early tea taken, with light still affecting the conditions, with England 7/1.

Evening

Conditions do improve not just enough for play to continue, but for McGrath to bowl. To start the session, the Australians enter the field all wearing sunglasses, in another classic image of the summer. Vaughan digs in, playing consecutive boundaries off McGrath, while Trescothick gets patient runs off Warne. But the clouds again dim the light, prompting Ponting to bring Clarke into the attack. He concedes only six runs in two overs. Warne bowls two deliveries in the 14th over, before Billy Bowden & Rudi Koertzen again stop play, offering the light, which the English batsmen gratefully take. The crowd have mixed feelings about the stoppage; they want to see more fantastic cricket, but they know that no play brings England that much closer to regaining the urn. After deliberation, stumps is eventually called, perhaps fitting that the final Test of this incredible series would go to the final day. All three results are still possible, with cricket fans ready to witness the end to an amazing summer.

After Day 4, England are 34/1 in the second innings. They lead by 40 runs.