Rain washes out final T20I as England and Australia share series 1-1

The forecast for Manchester proved accurate as persistent rain forced the abandonment of the deciding T20I between England and Australia on a bleak Sunday afternoon. The match, scheduled for a 2 pm start, was called off shortly after 4 pm without a ball being bowled, leaving the series tied 1-1.

Australia had taken the lead with a commanding win in Southampton, but England bounced back with a solid chase in Cardiff to square the series. Both teams were expected to recall their top fast bowlers for the decider, with Jofra Archer and Josh Hazlewood likely to return after being rested in the previous match. However, the weather dashed any hopes of seeing the teams in action, with the toss never taking place.

Australia’s squad was reduced to just 11 players due to illness, with Mitchell Marsh unavailable. Marsh, reflecting on Australia's recent T20I series, said, "Would have been nice to finish off with deciding match today but thought both teams played some really good cricket throughout and we move onto the one-day series." 

"We started in Scotland as a T20 group and knew young guys would get an opportunity throughout and thought we gave guys different roles in all five games we had and it's been really pleasing," Marsh added.

For England, captain Phil Salt expressed his pride in the team’s response after their opening defeat, particularly praising the partnership between Liam Livingstone and Jacob Bethell in the second T20I. 

"Very proud," he said. "As a team when you lose the first one you are always under pressure and the messaging to the boys was when we get pushed back we come back hard and that's what we did through that partnership in Cardiff with Livi and Beth. So really pleased with the way we responded but just disappointed we couldn't get on today."

Liam Livingstone, who scored 124 runs at a strike rate of 167 and claimed five wickets in the series, was named Player of the Series.

With the T20 series now behind them, both teams will shift focus to the upcoming five-match ODI series, starting on Thursday in Nottingham. England will be captained by Harry Brook in the absence of the injured Jos Buttler, while Australia’s ODI squad will be bolstered by the return of key players, including Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, and Mitchell Starc.

Both teams will also have an eye on the upcoming Champions Trophy in Pakistan next February, using the ODI series as a crucial preparation phase.