Ben Stokes says he hopes England's thrilling comeback from 2-0 down against Australia to draw the Ashes series will inspire a new generation of cricket fans.

A spectacular Australia batting collapse at The Oval on Monday ended the world champions’ hopes of a first series win in England since 2001 but Pat Cummins’ men still hold the Ashes after one of the most absorbing and dramatic series ever played between test cricket’s oldest rivals.

 England captain Ben Stokes said on Monday the 2-2 draw in the Ashes series showed his side had "walked the walk" after losing the first two tests against Australia, which made every test thereafter "a do-or-die situation".

Ben Stokes gave Australia's Steve Smith a potentially match-changing reprieve after early wickets revived England's hopes of a series-levelling win on the last day of the final Ashes Test at The Oval on Monday.

England fast bowler Stuart Broad will retire from cricket at the end of the Ashes series against Australia, he said after the third day of the final test on Saturday.

Steve Smith's 71 helped Australia recover from a batting collapse as the tourists frustrated England by establishing a first-innings lead in the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval on Friday.

 England's Harry Brook missed out on a maiden test century against Australia as the visitors held the upper hand on the opening day of the fifth and final Ashes test at the Oval on Thursday.

Australia may have retained the Ashes but a chance to win a Test series in England will spur them on after they "got away" with a draw in Manchester.

Australia opener David Warner has dismissed suggestions he and Steve Smith are going to quit test cricket after the final Ashes contest against England beginning at the Oval on Thursday.

England have named an unchanged team for the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval starting Thursday, with record wicket-taker James Anderson keeping his place in the side.

Flashback to the 2013 Ashes in England. England held the Ashes at that time, having won the first two Tests at the Trent Bridge and the Lord's. The third Test was at the Old Trafford in Manchester.

Joe Root dismissed Australian century-maker Marnus Labuschagne but rain returned to Old Trafford to frustrate England's hopes of forcing a series-levelling win in the fourth Test on Saturday.

England's unwavering commitment to playing attacking cricket without fear under captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendan McCullum was once again vindicated on Thursday when the hosts took control of the fourth Ashes test against Australia.

England's Stuart Broad became just the fifth bowler to take 600 Test wickets when he dismissed Australia's Travis Head in the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

James Anderson returns on his Old Trafford home ground to lead an ageing England attack in a must-win fourth Ashes Test.

David Warner has kept his place in Australia's XI for the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford despite the opener's ongoing struggles against England paceman Stuart Broad.

Ben Stokes said Tuesday that forecast bad weather in Manchester could make England even more aggressive as they bid to keep their Ashes hopes alive with victory in the fourth Test at Old Trafford.

Australia opener Usman Khawaja said on Monday he had approached the International Cricket Council (ICC) about reducing penalties for slow over-rates in test matches after the governing body announced earlier this month it had decided to soften sanctions.

England have recalled 40-year-old James Anderson for the fourth Ashes Test against Australia, which begins at Old Trafford on Wednesday.

David Warner's hopes of choosing the manner of his retirement from international cricket have dimmed after the Australian opener's twin failures in the defeat by England at Headingley and Mitchell Marsh's successful return to the side.