David Warner's horror moment as England take complete control of fourth Test

David Warner's place in Australia's Test team appears to be hanging by a thread after the opener was dismissed in disastrous fashion on day three of the fourth Ashes Test. Warner once again made a decent start, but went for 28 off 53 balls when he chopped a Chris Woakes delivery back onto his stumps.

The veteran batter was in two minds whether to leave the ball or not and appeared to try and get his bat out of the way at the last minute. However he only succeeded in dragging the ball back onto the stumps in a horror dismissal that will only increase the pressure on his place in Australia's XI.

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Warner actually improved his average in England after the knock, but it currently sits at a measly 25.6. Embarrassingly, bowler Mitchell Starc has a better batting average in England (27.43).

“Warner will hate that dismissal today, because people are looking and wondering about his position,” commentator Jonathan Agnew said. “His place is under the microscope.”

Warner was one of four Aussie batters dismissed late on day three at Old Trafford, as England took complete control of the fourth Test. Mark Wood ran through the tourists' top order with an inspired spell, taking 3-17 after dismissing Usman Khawaja (18), Steve Smith (17) and Travis Head (1).

Rain shapes as the only possible saviour for Australia, who were still 162 runs in arrears at stumps after England amassed 592 in their first innings. Jonny Bairstow made 99 not out and combined with No.11 batter Jimmy Anderson for a 66-run partnership that left the Aussies completely humiliated.

But with heavy downpours forecast for day four and showers predicted on day five, the Aussies' blushes might be spared by the weather. Pat Cummins' men only need a draw to retain the Ashes, but England will stay alive and square the series at 2-2 with a win at Old Trafford.

"I'd be very pleased (if it rained)," Josh Hazlewood said at the close of play. "It's obviously forecast and forecasts can change all the time. Obviously rain and light plays a big part in cricket and has done forever.

"So yeah, it'd be great to lose a few overs here and there and make our job a little easier of hanging in there. That's pretty obvious."

Jonny Bairstow suggested that's not the way he would be going about things. "Obviously the way in which we have played the game and have played the way over the past 18 months is something we are very proud of," Bairstow said.

"If that's the comments that are coming through, well the weather is the weather. I'm not (veteran British weatherman) Michael Fish."

Mitch Marsh a huge injury concern for Australia

Making things more difficult for Australia are multiple injury concerns, after Mitch Marsh became the second bowler in two days to spend time off the field. Marsh didn't bowl at all on day three, after spending the first 75 minutes on the sideline with what team officials labelled general stiffness.

But the Aussies are confident Marsh will be fine, with the all-rounder shaping as a crucial component of their side for the fifth Test at The Oval. "There's no (issues), that I'm aware of," Hazlewood said.

"He's probably bowled quite a bit in the last two games. It's probably a quite a steep rise in his workload. So I'm assuming it's just, you know, general soreness from that. The more overs he bowls the better he gets so it's, it's good to get a nice clean run at it and hopefully better after this innings and it just keeps building."

with AAP

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