England great Marcus Trescothick warns Australia that hoping for rain to bail them out at Old Trafford is a ‘dangerous’ tactic

England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick has warned Australia they risk being beaten mentally on day five in Manchester if Pat Cummins’ men arrive at the ground hoping for rain.

After a wet Saturday at Old Trafford, Australia will resume on Sunday at 5-214 and need another 61 runs to make England bat again in the fourth Test.

With heavy rain forecast around Manchester again, England know they must first rely on the weather clearing before having any chance of staying in with a chance of winning the series.

Australia have been realistic about the fact they would be happy with rain to save them in this Test and ensure they retain the Ashes with a draw.

And while Trescothick is not surprised Australia are hoping for rain, he believes it could work to the hosts’ advantage.

England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick has warned Australia they risk being beaten mentally on day five if they arrive at the ground hoping for rain.

‘It’s a natural thing to say. When you’re trying to save the game and there’s an opportunity of rain, everyone’s going to say the same things,’ the former Test opening batter said.

But he warned: ‘It can be a little bit dangerous.

‘If you start looking for other ways than internally in your team to stop games happening, or to not lose a game, potentially it becomes a dangerous point.

‘At the end of the day you have to go out and earn that victory whatever way it is.’

England are also preparing for the possibility of needing to rely on spin to win the match, after Joe Root and Moeen Ali were asked to bowl close to half the overs on Saturday due to bad light.

England staff remain adamant the quicks should have been able to continue bowling, but the concern would now be that the precedent is set for the same decision to be made on Sunday.

The change ended up working to some extent for the hosts, after Joe Root had Marnus Labuschagne caught behind for 111 – the only wicket of the day.

Cameron Green (left) and Mitch Marsh (right) will resume on 5-214 with Australia 61 runs short of getting England to bat again

‘We were sat on the balcony and we didn’t think it had deteriorated that much to not allow the seamers to bowl,’ Trescothick said.

‘The umpires out in the middle deemed it was too dark and they’ve got to make that decision.

‘And tomorrow, if that’s what we’re given, then that’s what we’ll take.

‘Any opportunity that we can get out in the middle tomorrow we will be grabbing with both hands.’