Manchester weather update, India vs England Test day 4: After finding themselves in troubled waters on the Old Trafford surface, the heavens might just dampen the visitors’ hopes before they set out to bat on day four of the fourth Test as spells of rain are expected to hit the ground on Saturday.
Ben Stokes’ Bazballers are pole position as they aim to take an unassailable 3-1 series lead after soaring past India’s 358-run first-innings total on Day 3. Led by Joe Root’s record-breaking 38th Test century, which he duly converted to a whopping 16th 150 in his career, England deflated the Indian pace attack as they moved up to 544 for seven before stumps, leading by 186 runs.
With fifties from Ollie Pope and captain Ben Stokes, captain Gill and Co. were left with minimal options on the field on Friday. However, the rains might just compound their woes today with overcast skies expected to blanket the ground after a spotless day of sunshine.
According to the UK Met Office department, wet weather is likely to persist throughout the morning and afternoon in Manchester with chances of rainfall peaking at noon. However, the Met department predicts the weather to be carrying “light rain changing to overcast by late morning.”
Manchester weather today (UK Met Office)
| Local Time (IST) | Chances of Rain | Temperature °C |
| 10AM (3:30PM) | 50% | 17° |
| 11AM (4:30PM) | 50% | 18° |
| 12PM (5:30PM) | 60% | 18° |
| 1PM (6:30PM) | 40% | 19° |
| 2PM (7:30PM) | 40% | 19° |
| 3PM (8:30PM) | 40% | 20° |
| 4PM (9:30PM) | 40% | 20° |
| 5PM (10:30PM) | 30% | 20° |
None of India’s lead pacers were able to inflict damage on the English batters as India bore the ignominy of conceding a 500-plus total for the first time in an overseas Test in a decade. England were also the last time to record three 400-plus scores in a series against India in the sub-continent in 2016, as they have this series. England were also the last side to rack up over 500 runs in an innings against India, having recorded the feat during their 2021 tour to India in Chennai.
Staring at the possibility of an innings defeat, Gill and India may just have to counter the mercurial English weather alongside the host’s pace attack on Saturday.
