Brook believes winning at the Oval would be ‘moral victory’ for England

Harry Brook scored 61 in England’s first innings at Old Trafford before rain robbed them of a chance to push for victory in the fourth Test. Photograph: Philip Brown/Getty Images

The Mancunian weather might have ended England’s chances of actual victory in the Ashes series but they go into the final match seeking the next best thing: moral victory. They remain 2-1 down but if the commanding position they earned at Old Trafford was rendered irrelevant by the subsequent rain it has not been forgotten by the players.

“We were dominating the game and if it had played out I would like to think we would have won,” Harry Brook said. “So if we can win this week, it almost can make it a moral victory.”