- England have won 11 of their last 13 Tests at Old Trafford 
- Australia are unbeaten in their last seven Ashes Tests at Old Trafford
- Recommended bet: England to win the fourth Test

England have not beaten Australia in an Old Trafford Test match since Ian Botham and Bob Willis inspired them to a 103-run series-clinching success in August 1981, and they will need to erase 42 years of hurt if they are to keep the 2023 Ashes series alive.

Ben Stokes' side halved the deficit with a three-wicket victory at Headingley but they are two steps away from securing a first Ashes series success since 2015.

Australia need just one victory to secure a first series victory in England since 2001 and they will be aiming to maintain their impressive record in Manchester, where they are unbeaten in the last seven Ashes Tests. 

Team news

England's only change from Headingley is in the seam department with James Anderson replacing Ollie Robinson.

Moeen Ali was promoted to number three at Leeds and is expected to stay there, allowing Harry Brook to bat at five.

Australia have a couple of close calls to make with Scott Boland and Josh Hazlewood competing for a bowling berth and Mitchell Marsh and Cameroon Green battling for the all rounder's slot.

One option would be to play Marsh and Green and omit struggling opener David Warner.

The stats

England's three-wicket victory over Australia at Headingley ended a sequence of seven matches without a win in Ashes Tests.

Australia are unbeaten in the last seven Ashes Tests at Old Trafford, winning four and drawing three, but England have an excellent recent record at the venue, winning 11 of their 13 Manchester Tests.

England have not passed 400 in their last 28 Ashes innings. The last time they passed 400 in an Ashes contest was at the Melbourne Test in December 2017 when Alistair Cook's 244 not out anchored a first innings total of 491.

Prediction

This summer's Ashes series has served up three tight contests but England have momentum and added belief after their victory at Headingley and they can level the series in Manchester.

England's bowlers have functioned reasonably well throughout the summer but they stepped up a level at Leeds with Mark Wood, Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali justifying their recalls with excellent performances.

Wood and Woakes contributed a combined total of 13 wickets (seven and six) and Ali came to the party by claiming the crucial second innings dismissals of Marnus Labuschagne and Steven Smith.

England won the contest despite fitness issues for Ollie Robinson and Ben Stokes, who did not bowl a ball throughout Australia's second innings.

And they will have another string to their bow in Manchester with Jimmy Anderson eager to make his mark on his home ground.

England seem to be getting stronger with every Test but Australia have a few issues to address.

Nathan Lyon's replacement, Todd Murphy, bowled fewer than 10 overs at Headingley and is still adjusting to the Test arena.

With 14 of England's wickets at Headingley falling to either Mitchell Starc (seven) or Pat Cummins (seven), others may need to step up if the Baggy Greens are to wrap up the series with a game to spare.

England's batting unit remains vulnerable but their bowling attack has the edge in terms of depth and balance and that may give them the advantage this week.

Back England to win the fourth Test at 29/20 with LiveScore Bet