Joe Root dismissed Australian century-maker Marnus Labuschagne but rain returned to Old Trafford to frustrate England's hopes of forcing a series-levelling win in the fourth Test on Saturday.

England's unwavering commitment to playing attacking cricket without fear under captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendan McCullum was once again vindicated on Thursday when the hosts took control of the fourth Ashes test against Australia.

England's Stuart Broad became just the fifth bowler to take 600 Test wickets when he dismissed Australia's Travis Head in the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

James Anderson returns on his Old Trafford home ground to lead an ageing England attack in a must-win fourth Ashes Test.

David Warner has kept his place in Australia's XI for the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford despite the opener's ongoing struggles against England paceman Stuart Broad.

Ben Stokes said Tuesday that forecast bad weather in Manchester could make England even more aggressive as they bid to keep their Ashes hopes alive with victory in the fourth Test at Old Trafford.

Australia opener Usman Khawaja said on Monday he had approached the International Cricket Council (ICC) about reducing penalties for slow over-rates in test matches after the governing body announced earlier this month it had decided to soften sanctions.

England have recalled 40-year-old James Anderson for the fourth Ashes Test against Australia, which begins at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

David Warner's hopes of choosing the manner of his retirement from international cricket have dimmed after the Australian opener's twin failures in the defeat by England at Headingley and Mitchell Marsh's successful return to the side.

Chris Woakes led the way with the ball before England openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett held firm to give England the upper hand in a must-win third Ashes Test for the hosts against Australia at Headingley on Saturday.

England captain Ben Stokes's dynamic 80, his latest dashing innings kept the hosts' Ashes hopes alive before Moeen Ali struck twice in quick succession in the third Test against Australia at Headingley on Friday.

Mitchell Marsh's run-a-ball 118 was the cornerstone of Australia's 263 on the first day of the third Ashes Test at Headingley on Thursday after the tourists collapsed either side of his blistering century.

Marylebone Cricket Club members who verbally abused Australian players during the second Ashes Test at Lord's have brought "shame" on the institution, according to the chairman.

Australia can expect to face a fired-up England and a furious crowd in the third Ashes Test at Headingley starting Thursday as the row over Jonny Bairstow's divisive dismissal at Lord's rumbles on.

Australia's Nathan Lyon will miss the remainder of the Ashes series against England due to a calf tear suffered while fielding during the second test at Lord's, Cricket Australia said on Monday.

Furious England coach Brendon McCullum has suggested his players might skip post-Ashes beers with the Australia team and questioned the visitors' sportsmanship over the Jonny Bairstow stumping on the final day of the second test at Lord's.

England captain Ben Stokes insisted he would not have wanted to win a game of cricket with the kind of dismissal that led to Jonny Bairstow's controversial exit during Australia's victory in the second Ashes Test at Lord's.

Australia won an action-packed second Ashes test at Lord's on Sunday by 43 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the five-test series, despite a superb rearguard innings of 155 from England captain Ben Stokes.

Mitchell Starc sparked an England collapse at Lord's on Sunday before Ben Duckett was given a controversial reprieve as the hosts maintained their bid for a remarkable win in the second Ashes Test.

England captain Ben Stokes said Tuesday he is "deeply sorry" to learn of the scale of discrimination in the sport after a damning report revealed "widespread" racism, sexism and classism in the game.