Rain played spoilsport in the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford and denied England an opportunity to level the series 2-2.
The final day’s play in Manchester got abandoned due to incessant rain on Sunday (July 23), leaving the Three Lions frustrated as they needed only five wickets to clinch the Test match after having dominated Australia with both bat and ball over the course of the first three days.
The draw also meant that England conceded the urn, with the fifth and final Test to be held at The Oval from July 27.
On the eve of the fifth Ashes Test, England skipper Ben Stokes addressed a press conference, where he admitted leaving the field emotionless after the penultimate Test.
"Leaving Manchester after the game was done, I've never left the field, never left a game emotionless," Stokes told reporters. "It was a really bizarre feeling the way the game petered out because of the weather.
"You sort of look back and wish maybe we either got beat or Australia managed to pull a draw off in that situation.
"Shaking hands with the umpires and the opposition at the end, you could see that from both sides, it was emotionless, Australia retaining the Ashes and us not being able to win it back. Two teams of professional athletes want to be out there playing against each other, doing what we do. It was a flat feeling."
Stokes said the hosts are keen to finish the series on a high and make sure Australia don’t depart with a first series win in England since 2001.
"Putting the shirt on, walking out to represent my country, that's all the emotion I need. Everyone's very aligned in terms of what we want to do. And I'm not someone who speaks for the sake of speaking. If I feel I need to say something then I will but I don't think I need to this week, it's pretty obvious what we need to go out and do."
England have named an unchanged XI for the fifth Test, meaning that fast bowler Stuart Broad will have played in all five Tests while his veteran pacer James Anderson will retain his place despite a lean series.
"He's put in some incredible performances throughout the tests but he's also been very good at coming on with the ball and changing the game, which is something he's done throughout his whole career," Stokes said of Broad.
While Broad is the top wicket taker in the series with 18 scalps, Anderson has been found wanting and managed only four wickets at an average of 76.
Commenting on Anderson’s below-par showing, Stokes said: "He's not probably had the impact and the wickets he would have liked in the series. Jimmy's come in for flack for that, but if Joe (Root) hadn't scored the runs he would have liked he wouldn't be questioned. James Anderson is the greatest fast bowler to play the game and he's still looking as good as he was two years ago."
(With Reuters Inputs)
