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The Ashes: M.E.N online coverage

KEEP up with all the sizzling action from The Ashes with the M.E.N online. The latest scores, live debate plus analysis and commentary from the M.E.N's Colin Evans throughout the day. Exclusively available online here.

Here's a quick reminder to what's at stake:

* England are trying to win the Ashes from Australia for the first time since 1987.
* Mike Gatting was the last England captain to secure the trophy, when his team clinched a 2-1 victory down under 18 years ago.
* This time Michael Vaughan’s men are already 2-1 up, and only need to draw at the famous Oval ground in south London to win the series overall.
* But if Australia manage a win in the fifth and final Test they will hang on to the Ashes until the sides meet again in two years.
* After Australia cruised to victory in the First Test at Lord’s, England were 12/1 rank outsiders to win the series.
* But they bounced straight back in the thrilling Second Test, squeezing home by just two runs - the narrowest margin in the Ashes’ 128-year history.
* Some 8.4 million people - a 21% share of the TV audience - saw England win the Fourth Test on Channel 4, more than double the station’s normal ratings.
* The Fifth Test will mark the end of an era for legendary ex-cricketer and TV commentator Richie Benaud. The 74-year-old former spin bowler, who took 248 Test wickets for Australia will hang up his microphone after the deciding match of the current Ashes series. He is bowing out after a 42-year career commentating in England, 36 of them for the BBC.
* It will also be the last Test match in England for Australian spin bowler Shane Warne. Warne, who has claimed a world-record 611 wickets, will be nearly 40 the next time an Ashes series is held here and has conceded he will not be playing.

Use the links below to keep up with the action.

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