Australia retain The Ashes after victory over England at Old Trafford

Australia celebrate after they claimed victory to retain the Ashes at Old Trafford. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA

England’s hopes of reclaiming the Ashes finally disappeared after a brave 11th-hour resistance against Australia came up short on a nerve-racking final day at Old Trafford.

Yorkshire CCC’s Joe Root insists he’s still right man to captain England despite...

Charged with the improbable prospect of nullifying the touring attack for 98 overs on the fifth day, the home side bristled with determination only for it to end in disappointment in front of a 23,500 sell-out in Manchester.

Australia finally dismissed them for 197 at 6.15pm, with a 185-run win giving them an unassailable 2-1 lead that means they will retain the urn regardless of events at The Oval next week.

Australia's Marnus Labuschagne celebrates the wicket of England's Jack Leach at Old Trafford. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA

That makes Joe Root the first England captain not to see off the old enemy on home soil since Nasser Hussain in 2001, and means outgoing head coach Trevor Bayliss will end his World Cup-winning reign on a sour note in the longer format.

Australia celebrated joyously on the outfield when Josh Hazlewood claimed the decisive lbw against Craig Overton, but they had been made to wait for their party by a gutsy batting performance.

Overton was one of three batsmen to face 100 or more deliveries on the day, joining Joe Denly (53) and Jos Buttler (34), but their collective efforts were not enough to conjure a sequel to Ben Stokes’ miracle of Headingley last time out.

England looked down and out when their last specialist batsman, Buttler, departed at 4.50pm but Overton and Jack Leach, reprising his unlikely role from Leeds, delayed Australia for more than an hour as memories of past rearguards came vividly to life.

GOT HIM: England's Ben Stokes shows his dismay after being dismissed during day five at Emirates Old Trafford. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA

It was not be, Leach unpicked by part-time leg-spinner Marnus Labuschagne in a bold gambit and Overton trapped in front by Hazlewood in the 92nd over.

The hosts started the day on 18-2, with nine players ready to take up the fight while Rory Burns and Root were reduced to watching briefs following their ducks on Saturday evening.

The pair had shared England’s biggest stand of the series in the first innings but in their stead it fell to Jason Roy and Denly to set the tone.

Denly rode a couple of lbw shouts early on and Roy drew the first raucous cheer of the day when he turned the ball off his hip for four.

THROUGH THE GATE: England's Jason Roy walks off the pitch after being dismissed during day five at Old Trafford. Picture: Mike Egerton/PA

But, in reality, runs were a side issue. Denly might have needed a gentle reminder of that when he chased a wide one from Mitchell Starc and saw a wild edge soar over second slip, and again when he slog-swept Nathan Lyon just short of the man at deep mid-wicket.

He learned those lessons well, topping up his score as he went, and by the time Roy stroked the ball calmly to the extra-cover boundary an hour had passed.

STICKING AROUND: Joe Denly led England's rearguard action during the morning session of day five at Old Trafford. Picture: Martin Rickett/PA

Another 20 minutes ticked by before Australia finally made their first breakthrough, Pat Cummins calling on his world number one credentials with one that snaked between Roy’s bat and pad to smash the stumps.

As he departed, for a battling 31, Stokes took his place to a predictable hero’s welcome. The all-rounder was all out of magic this time, lingering just 17 balls before Cummins slanted one across, nipped it back in and grazed the inside edge.