Ashes 2013: Rain delays fourth day at Oval

The predicted rain arrived on day four of the final Investec Ashes Test, washing out the first session at the Kia Oval.

The forecast for the rest of the day is far from positive, though that will hardly concern England too much.

With a 3-0 lead in the bag and the urn safe once again, the hosts all but shut down the game as a viable contest on day three, responding defensively to Australia's 492 for nine declared.

They crawled to 247 for four by stumps, none of their batsman showing any inclination to advance the game in a meaningful way.

Australia, for their part, proved unable to extract enough life from the pitch to make further inroads meaning a draw appears the only feasible result.