Nathan Lyon's spinning finger made a good metaphor for the Australian spin bowler's nerves by the end of the Old Trafford Test, its callus split in two, held together by superglue, painkillers and a fierce desperation to win the Ashes.

As his teammates all looked achingly towards one of the ground's big screens for confirmation of the final wicket with less than an hour's play remaining, Lyon's head was turned in the other direction - he could be forgiven for not bearing to look. After Edgbaston, where Lyon had dominated England with a second innings display redolent of the 2017-18 series in Australia, he and the team had looked set for a straightforward steamrolling. The story that has unfolded since has taken it out of Lyon in ways he has never had to deal with before.

First, he drew level with Dennis Lillee's Australian wickets tally at Lord's, then struggled to go past him, a sensation shared by none other than Shane Warne in 2000. Next, came Headingley with all its many traumas. Lyon fumbled the critical run out chance, was denied the crucial lbw, and sank to the floor in desolation when Ben Stokes fashioned victory in the following over. With that result arrived a torrent of abuse, referencing some of Lyon's more unkind comments about England in 2017 and the fact that he had effectively dropped the Ashes.

At Old Trafford, the crowds took to ironically cheering him whenever he caught the ball before ambling in for his next delivery, meanwhile hurling all sorts at him from closer range. For a team that had already weathered the persistent booing of David Warner and Steven Smith, this underlined, as the captain Tim Paine said, "It's a nice place to play cricket but it is bloody difficult in England if I am honest."

Also read: A scream, a win and an urn dearly earned

Certainly Lyon, his spinning finger cut open in the first innings then only barely held together in the second, could relate. "I split my finger in the first innings but in Test cricket you have to find a way to compete," Lyon said. "It's probably like a singer losing the vocals probably. I was pretty proud of that bowling effort, to take 20 wickets on that pitch.

"You hear it [the crowd] for the first over or two then it just becomes white noise, if that makes sense. I know that's hard to believe but when you're a professional sportsman - your job is to come out and bowl well, compete against whoever you're playing. To be honest with you, I didn't really feel it or hear it at the back end, so it doesn't worry me. We're sitting up there, we're going to have a couple of beers tonight and celebrate because the urn is coming home. I'm not sure what the 9000 people in that stand are doing tonight."

What Lyon was doing after Headingley was grieving the defeat, his role in it, and trying to deal with a myriad of personal issues back home, one of which has been an ill uncle. But somewhere, perhaps from Paine's early advice to him in the aftermath of defeat, or perhaps from a text message sent to him by Smith - relating his own learnings from his one-year ban from cricket - Lyon found a way to drag himself back into a frame of mind capable of doing a job in Manchester.

"Obviously you're devastated. I wear my heart on my sleeve and playing cricket for Australia means everything for me, it's not about personal success for me," he said. "But I've had some family issues over the past - my uncle's quite sick. You realise quite quickly it's just a game. It does impact a lot of people. Mistakes happen. I didn't meant to drop the run out or anything like that but I had him plumb next ball. That's just the game of cricket. You've got to pick yourself up and it's just the way you bounce back.

"I would've loved to win five-nil, don't worry about that. That means a lot of parties. But you've got to give credit where credit's due. Both sides have played some really decent cricket. You've got to respect the opposition. We're playing against some absolute superstars of the game. You look at Archer, Root, Stokes - that's just three and we could sit here all night and talk about them - but they're absolute superstars of the game. I think this series is rivalling the '05 series, as a spectator back then you were riding the waves with the Australian cricket team. The sport in this country, England, alone over the past five months has done wonders for cricket.

"You get the chance to come out here and play cricket for Australia and represent your family, friends and everyone back home. I guarantee when I get my phone back I'll have a fair few messages from mates staying up - I think it's about 3.30am back home. It's quite a special moment that a sport can bring a nation together. I daresay that the boys in that change room up there, where we're going to celebrate tonight, have brought a nation together."

In both the first innings and on the final day, Lyon was not the dominating figure of the last Ashes series or Edgbaston, rather a supporting character to the unstinting brilliance of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, with help at vital times from Mitchell Starc and, finally, Marnus Labuschagne. Their collective performance was enough for Lyon to make the sort of blanket statement that comes with winning Ashes series.

"Everyone is going to think this is a big statement but I think the bowling squad in that change room there is the best in the world," Lyon said. "I believe that and I'm very confident that we are the best in the world. To have the fast-bowling stocks that we've got as the Australian Cricket Team at the moment we're very lucky. But in saying that the boys are working their backsides off. There's no surprise they're out there reaping the rewards they deserve.

"You've got Pat Cummins, the best bowler in the world in my view but then Josh Hazlewood, jeez, if he's not second I don't know what is. That's my personal view. But then you've got Starcy, Patto, Sidds, Michael Neser as well. We had an hour to do our skill [get the last wicket] and, to be honest with you, I was quite confident in our skill, we'd be able to get the job done.

"It's about positive thoughts and backing the bowlers, even the decision from Tim Paine to give Marnus a bowl was a very brave and ballsy decision but it paid off. Marnus is a guy who wants to do well for the Australian cricket team, he wants the ball in his hand. Hats off to him, spinning into the rough into a left-hander. Personally, I'd rather bowl to a right-hander on those wickets. Hats off to Marnus and hats off to Tim."

But for all that bravado there were nerves, of course there were. Lyon knew from his square position that Craig Overton's lbw was not going over the top of the stumps, but the interminable moments before the final confirmation arrived were torturous given all that had come before, as the words in the team huddle emphasised. "'Is it out? Is it out? What do you reckon Josh? Is out out? Is it sliding'?" Lyon recalled.

"I felt pretty confident from point. I know I can't see the line or anything but I can see the length and I knew it wasn't going over the top, so I was pretty confident. But I was nervous. All I was hoping was three reds or umpires call and it was out. It's a dream come true. I've wanted this. Personally and as a team, it's pretty special that the urn's coming home.

"As a kid growing up, and as soon as i got my baggy green - the biggest goal in my career has been to win the Ashes away. We're 2-1 up and I want to go 3-1 up and when we hold the urn up at The Oval, it's going to be an amazing feeling. Yeah we're going to enjoy this tonight and take in this moment, but there's still a lot of work to do if we want to become a great cricket side and get to where we want to go to."

England have reacted to their 185-run defeat in the fourth Test at Old Trafford by naming an unchanged 13-man squad for the fifth and final Test at The Oval, starting on Thursday. It is a contest in which England can still square the series 2-2, even though the Ashes have already been retained by Australia.

Despite the glaring shortcomings of England's batting throughout the series, the fight shown on the final day at Old Trafford, where England took their rearguard into the final hour thanks to battling cameos all down the order, has encouraged the selectors to offer a final chance to a batting line-up that, aside from positional changes for Joe Denly and Jason Roy, has remained the same throughout.

With the exception of Ben Stokes, who is averaging 59 following hundreds at Lord's and Headingley, and Rory Burns, who has cemented his status as England's first-choice opener with 323 runs at 40.37, the remainder of England's batting line-up has been consistently poor.

The captain, Joe Root, has picked up three ducks to go along with three hard-fought fifties to average 30.87 - almost 20 runs fewer than his Test average at the start of 2019, while Denly, Root, Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow have all averaged between 25.50 and 13.75.

There had been speculation that England would ring a few changes for The Oval, with Surrey's Olly Pope one name in the frame to replace Roy, while their team-mate Ben Foakes, who made a century on Test debut in Sri Lanka last year, was a potential replacement for Bairstow as wicketkeeper.

However, it may be significant that the Oval Test will be the final match of Trevor Bayliss's tenure as England coach, and therefore there is little to be gained from wholesale changes at this stage of England's cycle. Instead, the match offers a final opportunity for an under-performing set of players to fight for their short-term Test futures, with tours of New Zealand and South Africa looming large on the horizon.

Craig Overton, whose battling innings of 21 from 105 balls gave England hope on the final day at Old Trafford, retains his place in the squad and will once again compete for the role of third seamer, alongside Chris Woakes and the left-armer Sam Curran, another Surrey home boy.

"It's obviously disappointing," Overton said, after falling to Josh Hazlewood as the last wicket of England's second innings. "We set out at the start of the day to show some character and the boys did that. Everyone got stuck in to take it that deep on a day-five wicket against a world-class bowling attack. We are proud, but it's disappointing that we couldn't get over the line."

Despite the loss of the Ashes, the series remains live at 2-1 with one to play, and Overton said that England would be gunning for a share of the spoils when the fifth Test begins.

"That's been the message," he said. "It's disappointing that we've lost but the character we showed today, take that to The Oval and make sure we get that win to stop them winning the series, only retaining."

However, England may yet have to take the field at The Oval with the talismanic Stokes under an injury cloud. He injured his shoulder while bowling during the Old Trafford Test, and will be monitored by the ECB in the coming days.

If he is deemed unfit to bowl, then Stokes will play as a batsman only, with the all-round abilities of Woakes or Curran coming into the mix at the expense of one of the specialist batsmen in the side.

England squad: Joe Root (capt), Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Craig Overton, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes

American and New Zealander triumph in New York City race as we highlight some key results in our post-weekend round-up

On a busy weekend which included the Simplyhealth Great North Run, Great Tees 10km and Great CityGames other action included.

New Balance 5th Avenue Mile, New York, September 8

Jenny Simpson and Nick Wills continued their excellent record. Simpson won a record eighth overall (and seventh consecutive) title in a 4:17 course record ahead of Elinor Purrier on the same time though in tenths the times were unofficially 4:16.1 and 4:16.2.

Rebecca Mehra was third (4:22). Jess Judd finished fifth in 4:27 and Amy-Eloise Neale eighth in 4:28.

Willis had a record fifth win as he shared the winning time of 3:52 (unofficially 3:51.7) with Sam Prakel and Chris O´Hare.

A record 9172 runners completed the 39th edition of the race in numerous waves.

European Masters Championships, near Venice, September 5-15

Over the first four days, Britain won 33 gold medals and 90 medals and sit third on the medal table behinds hosts Italy (41 golds and 102 medals) and Germany (38 and 104).

The most successful event has been the 1500m with wins for M40 Matt Barnes, M50 Mark Symes, M55 Guy Bracken, M60 Paul Fletcher, M75 Victor Shirley, W40 Zoe Doyle, W55 Clare Elms and W70 Ros Tabor, while Fletcher also won the 10,000m and Elms the cross-country.

Other cross-country wins were achieved by W50 Lucy Elliott and W70 Penny Forse and the W50 and W55 teams while Andrew Leach easily won the M55 10,000m.

Wins at 100m were achieved by M35 Jonathan Browne, M55 Don Brown, M60 John Wright, M65 Steve Peters and W65 Caroline Powell.

There were long hurdles wins for M45 Ed Betts, M65 Ian Broadhurst (300m hurdles British record 47.48), W35 Nisha Desai, W55 Julie Rogers, W60 Jane Horder and W70 Jean Fail (UK 200m hurdles record 49.42).

In the field, Evaun Williams won both the W80 shot and hammer while W55 Jo Willoughby won the W55 triple jump in an UK record 10.45m.

Anthony Treacher won the M75 triple jump. Iris Holder the W75 triple jump, Andrea Jenkins the W40 weight and Ian Richards the M70 5000m walk.

Daily reports from the event are elsewhere on the AW website with coverage in the September 12 and 19 issues of the magazine too.

Jungfrau Marathon, Switzerland, September 7

Robbie Simpson won this prestigious mountain marathon in 2:59:30 as former English national cross-country champion Steve Vernon was ninth.

Woodford Green Open, Woodford, September 2

Ros Tabor warmed up for her European Masters 1500m win with a British W70 mile record of 6:48.50.

Breezy conditions meant she was not able to achieve the time (6:37.56) she ran in July in the Soar mile  when aged 69, she ran a time that would have bettered American Sharon Gerl’s world mark of 6:38.30.

Lake Vyrnwy Half-Marathon, Wales, September 8

Jonny Mellor won in 64:36 just 10 seconds ahead of Andrew Davies as the first seven broke 70 minutes.

Alison Lavender won the women’s race in 77:58.

City of Salford 10km, September 8

Mohammed Abu Rezeq won in 30:27 while W40 Kirtsy Longley maintained her good form with a 34:29 women’s victory.

Beckum Germany, September 8

The 2012 Olympic champion Jenn Suhr cleared 4.75 to win the women’s pole vault meet here. Behind her three athletes managed 4.70m – French Ninon Guillon-Romarin, Slovenian Tina Sutej and Sweden´s Michaela Meijer.

Taiyuan China, September 8

There were wins for Bahrain’s Marius Kimutai (2:09:43) and Ethiopia’s Belainesh Yami Gurmu (2:29:48).

Tallinn, Estonia, September 8

There was half marathon wins for Evans Cheruiyot (60:29) ahead of Israel’s Maru Tefera (60:52) and Janet Ruguru in the women’s race in 70:19.

Kenyans Josphat Letting (2:12:42) and Pamela Rotich (2:32:16) won the marathon.

Daniil Medvedev cupped his ear once again towards the US Open crowd - but this time it was with a smile and the knowledge he had won them over.

His previous "bad" behaviour had been forgiven with a heroic performance in his five-set defeat by Rafael Nadal in the final in New York.

Earlier in the tournament he had been booed, but on Sunday the crowd chanted his name while he fought back from two sets and a break down before succumbing in a five-set thriller.

"I knew I had to leave my heart out there for them," the 23-year-old Russian said after the 7-5 6-3 5-7 4-6 6-4 defeat.

"I had to do that for myself first of all, but also for them. I think they saw it and they appreciate it. I'm thankful to them for this."

Medvedev has had a tempestuous relationship with the crowd on Arthur Ashe Stadium over the past fortnight, having been booed earlier in the tournament for trolling them with his provocative post-match celebrations and interviews.

He has since looked to shake off the role of pantomime villain and apologised for his behaviour, which has included angrily snatching towels from ball people and curtly 'thanking' the American fans for jeering him.

And this gutsy display on the biggest stage of his burgeoning career, plus the humour and humility he showed in his runners-up speech, has endeared him to the American fans as well as, no doubt, a much wider audience.

On Ashe, standing ovations greeted him breaking back to level during the third set and again when he held off two break points to hold for 5-4.

A loud chant of "Med-ve-dev, Med-ve-dev, Med-ve-dev" rang around for the first time after he held serve to take a crucial 6-5 lead in the third set and continued to be heard through to the end of the match.

That recognition was testament to the ability and character which has marked out the wiry Russian, set to rise to fourth in the world on Monday, as a star in recent months.

Another prolonged ovation greeted him as he collected his prize.

"I know early in the tournament I said something in a bad way, and now I want to say it in a good way, it is because of your energy I am here," he told the crowd.

On his earlier post-victory speeches which antagonised the American fans, he added in a later news conference: "I'm not proud of them, but I was being myself.

"But getting the crowd back, which I was surprised about, again I was being myself.

"I was fighting for every point. I think they appreciated it.

"Being break down in the third, I won the game, and I felt that these guys wanted some more tennis.

"They were cheering me up like crazy."

Medvedev has been the form player on the ATP Tour in the North American hard court swing, leading to many tennis fans picking him out as the man most likely to threaten the 'big three' at Flushing Meadows.

After losing in the Washington and Montreal finals, Medvedev claimed the title in Cincinnati and continued his winning streak in New York to reach his first major final.

The Russian is only the third man - after Ivan Lendl and Andre Agassi - to reach all four of these finals in the Open era.

Those exertions, plus the efforts he needed to keep Nadal at bay in the physical first set, looked to have caught up with him early in the match, Nadal breaking for a 4-2 lead which was enough to seal the second set, and again for a 3-2 lead in the third.

But after immediately wiping that out to level, Medvedev took an anxious Nadal's serve to claw a set back.

That was only the start of the story as the pair slugged it out for another two hours before Medvedev, who also fought back from 5-2 down in the decider, finally succumbed after a match lasting almost five hours.

"Absolutely phenomenal performance from Medvedev," said Pat Cash, the former Wimbledon champion and BBC Radio 5 Live analyst.

"He has shown how mentally tough he is. His determination is spectacular and he has shown that is an absolute superstar athlete."

Rafael Nadal said it was "impossible" to hold in his emotions after winning the US Open title in an "unforgettable" five-set battle with Daniil Medvedev.

Nadal, 33, beat Russian Medvedev 7-5 6-3 5-7 4-6 6-4 in four hours 50 minutes in New York to win his 19th Grand Slam.

The Spanish second seed was tearful as a video of his major wins was played on the big screens on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

"This trophy means everything to me today," said Nadal, who has now won four titles at Flushing Meadows.

"Personal satisfaction of the way that I resisted all these tough moments is very high.

"The emotions have been there watching all the success, all the moments that came to my mind in that moment. Yeah, I tried to hold the emotion, but some moments was impossible."

Nadal was cruising at two sets and a break up before fifth seed Medvedev, 23, fought back to take Sunday's final into a decider.

But it was Nadal's intensity and mental resilience that took him over the line, built up throughout a career in which he has now won 83 ATP singles titles.

"The way that the match became very dramatic at the end, that makes this day unforgettable, part of my history of this sport," Nadal said.

'I'm not thinking of 20th Grand Slam'

Unsurprisingly, the Spaniard faced questions post-match about his thoughts on trying to equal Roger Federer's record of 20 men's Grand Slam titles.

Nadal - five years Federer's junior - is one behind the Swiss great and three ahead of Novak Djokovic's 16.

"I don't look at it that way," he said. "I always say the same: I would love to be the one who wins more, but I am not thinking [about it].

"I feel honoured to be part of this battle [with Federer and Djokovic]. But I really believe that I will not be happier or less happy if that happens or does not happen.

"I am not going to practice every day or not play tennis for it. I am playing tennis because I love to play tennis.

"I can't just think about Grand Slams, no? Tennis is more than Grand Slams. I need to think about the rest of the things.

"I play to be happy. Of course, the victory today makes me super happy. But a few weeks ago, I won in Montreal and [that was] an important moment for me, too.

"All the things that I achieved in my career are much more than what I ever thought and what I ever dreamed."

Javi Gracia has said he was surprised by his "abrupt" sacking as Watford manager after leading the Premier League club to their highest finish last season.

Watford, who have one point from four matches, dismissed Gracia on Saturday, bringing an end to a 20-month tenure during which he helped them finish 11th last season and reach the FA Cup final. He was replaced by fellow Spaniard Quique Sanchez Flores.

"After the unexpected announcement about the termination of my contract ... I want to express my surprise after completing the best season in Watford's history," Gracia said in a statement released to the British media.

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"I'm grateful to this club for allowing me to manage this great club in the Premier League, it has been an incredible experience, with very special moments like the FA Cup final I had the privilege to enjoy."

Flores' first game in charge during his second spell at the club will be against Arsenal on Sunday.

Australia Women 2 for 308 (Perry 112*, Healy 58, Gardner 57*, Mooney 56) defeat West Indies Women 8 for 157 (Kyshona 32, Wareham 2-29) by 151 runs

A fluent century from Ellyse Perry in stifling Antigua heat helped Australia secure the three-match ODI series against West Indies 2-0 courtesy of a crushing 151-run win.

The simplicity of the scoreline concealed a day of drama. Australia captain Meg Lanning was withdrawn from the match moments before the toss due to back spasms, forcing a hasty cap presentation to debutant Erin Burns, while Beth Mooney was forced to retire hurt late in Australia's innings due to heat exhaustion.

But despite Rachael Haynes, the designated vice-captain, taking over the reins - besides the change in batting order and the oppressive conditions, - normal service resumed after Australia won the toss. Alyssa Healy continued her sparkling form clubbing a 33-ball half century as she put on a 56-run opening stand with Haynes inside the first 10 overs before the stand-in captain fell for 13 off the penultimate ball of the Powerplay.

Perry, elevated to No. 3, was slow to get going and got a reprieve early before her supreme fitness carried her to an unbeaten 112 from 118 balls, her second ODI century and her fourth for Australia in all formats, to anchor the innings as Australia made their second successive score of 308.

"At the start I was probably a little bit mentally AWOL," Perry said after the match. "I was probably lucky, to be fair, after getting dropped early but that seemed to sort of pick me up a little bit."

After Healy holed out off Chinelle Henry for 58, Perry got great support from Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner. Mooney ground out 56 from 81 balls in a 129-run stand with Perry before the stifling heat got the better of her and she was forced to retire at the end of the 42nd over.

It gave Gardner just 48 balls to make an impact and she did more than that, clubbing six fours and three sixes in a 23-ball half-century to equal Meg Lanning's record for the fastest fifty by an Australian woman in ODI cricket. She finished on 57 not-out off 25 balls and watched Perry smack the last ball of the innings to the cover-point fence. The pair made 86 runs in the last eight overs of the innings.

"Obviously it was a real shame with Meg going down just before the game but I guess that sort of gave other people an opportunity and everyone slid up," Perry said. "I really enjoyed my time out in the middle today but I think there was some great contributions, Midge (Healy) at the start and for Ash to do what she did, that's what she's capable of and what we know she's capable of, so that really got us up over 300 to get a great total on the board."

Perry took the new ball and made the early breakthrough trapping Stacy-Ann King plumb in the fourth over. West Indies' understrength line-up then made virtually no attempt to chase down the total. After being bowled out for 130 inside 38 overs in the first ODI in Coolidge, the home side managed to bat out their 50 overs in the chase on Sunday, but crawled to 8 for 157. Kyshona Knight top-scored with 32 but took an excruciating 81 deliveries to compile them. Sheneta Grimmond was the only batter to strike at better than 54, making a 31 not-out from 37 late in the game, at No. 8. Australia used eight bowlers with six of them claiming wickets. Georgia Wareham had the best figures of 2 for 29 although her two wickets came from what were two of the worst balls of the day.

Perry said that Australia have had to find a way to keep their intensity up.

"It's an interesting situation at the moment," Perry said. "Obviously they've got a number of their key players missing. I think from a confidence point of view and match awareness and knowing how to take the game - I think it's a real challenge. From that point of view, it's up to us to make them play but also be really meticulous on our standards. In the first game we bowled way too many extras and probably today we bowled a few too many but all in all I think it's been great to challenge ourselves to try things to try and execute things."

Perth Scorchers have signed New South Wales batsman Kurtis Patterson for the next three Big Bash League seasons.

Patterson, the 26-year old who has played two Tests for Australia, is headed west after six seasons with the Sydney Thunder where he managed just 25 games. He started his career at the Sydney Sixers playing one game in BBL 02.

"I am really excited to be heading to the West and joining a successful club," Patterson said. "The opportunity to gain different insights from new coaches and playing on the fast wicket at Optus (Perth) Stadium were both big factors in deciding to sign with the Scorchers. I know the club has a great culture and I can't wait to be a part of the team."

Patterson did not play a single game in the BBL last season despite being in career-best form in first-class cricket which led to his Test debut against Sri Lanka in Brisbane and his maiden test century in Canberra. He was not selected for the Ashes tour after a lean run on the Australia A tour of England.

The left-hander's record in the shorter formats do not match his respectable first-class record. He has never scored a T20 half-century in 24 innings, averaging just 19.21 with a strike-rate of 109.40.

The Scorchers were eager to rebuild their top order following the exits of Shaun Marsh, Michael Klinger and Hilton Cartwright. Klinger has retired while Marsh signed a three-year deal with the Renegades and Cartwright joined the Stars on a multi-year deal.

The Scorchers missed out on securing Western Australia batsman Josh Philippe who recommitted long-term to the Sixers following his success last year.

Patterson did score two Sheffield Shield hundreds against Western Australia last season, including one on a difficult batting pitch at Perth Stadium. WA and Scorchers coach Adam Voges said Patterson's prowess on the fast bouncy surface was a key reason he was recruited.

"We have seen first-hand how talented Kurtis is, he's scored a lot of runs against us in all formats over the past few seasons," Voges said. "After losing some experience at the top of the order we identified that as an area to bolster. Kurtis is a quality player and I believe he will play the Optus Stadium wicket really well with its extra pace and bounce."