The start of the fifth day of the first Ashes 2023 Test match between England and Australia has been delayed because it is raining in Birmingham at the moment. A day which already comprised enough scope for entertainment considering an intriguing match situation has received another aspect in the form of inclement weather conditions.
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For the unversed, it is for the second time in the match that rain is playing spoilsport. While it did the same on Day 3, the fourth day managed to dodge the weather in spite of there being some forecast of rain.
Speaking of Day 5, the morning session has already been canceled. Thus, making the match all the most interesting with Australia needing 174 runs and England requiring seven wickets to win within two sessions.
Morning all 👋
It’s been a rather bleak start to the day at Edgbaston ☔️
Here’s hoping for some play later on 🤞#EnglandCricket | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/bC5yQ6dleK
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 20, 2023
To make up for overs lost on Sunday, the first session was to be extended by 15 minutes today much like Monday. However, rain has resulted in match officials deciding to break for lunch at 12:30 PM (local time); 45 minutes before the scheduled interval. Following a 40-minute lunch interval, the exact duration of the remaining two sessions will be decided once play starts.
Current Weather In Birmingham England For Day 5
All of the planning with respect to conducting the afternoon and evening sessions will only come into play if it doesn’t rain post 01:00 PM. Speaking of the current weather in Birmingham, it is expected to rain throughout the afternoon on Tuesday.
Going by tried and tested weather portal in AccuWeather, there’s a rain probability of 66% till 3 PM. Hence, weather will have to really take inspiration from Day 4 to not keep players out of action for too long.
It is noteworthy that the number will decrease to some extent around 04:00 PM but will again rise to 56% after an hour. In such a situation, one can’t rule out a start-stop arrangement for the day.
All the stakeholders, however, will be praying for as much live action as possible on what will be a houseful setup at the venue. While no one would mind a riveting draw, no or very little play happening to conclude a Test match of this quality would be a real shame.
Weather In Birmingham Today Hourly
12:00 PM – 18 degree (Rain Probability – 70%).
01:00 PM – 19 degree (Rain Probability – 70%).
02:00 PM – 20 degree (Rain Probability – 66%).
03:00 PM – 20 degree (Rain Probability – 66%).
04:00 PM – 21 degree (Rain Probability – 49%).
05:00 PM – 21 degree (Rain Probability – 56%).
06:00 PM – 20 degree (Rain Probability – 49%).
07:00 PM – 19 degree (Rain Probability – 39%).
