Rain washes out day four of final Ashes Test

The predicted rain arrived to wash out day four of the final Ashes Test at The Oval.

Not a ball was able to be bowled on Saturday with umpires Kumar Dharmasena and Aleem Dar finally calling off proceedings at 4pm.

England hold a 3-0 lead in the series and, with the urn safe once again, the hosts all but shut down the game on day three, responding defensively to Australia's first innings total of 492-9 declared.

They crawled to 247-4 by stumps, Joe Root (68) and Kevin Pietersen (50) both registering half-centuries, as just 215 runs were added in 98.3 overs.

Ian Bell will be due to resume on Sunday with 29 to his name alongside Warwickshire colleague Chris Woakes, who is 15 not out on debut.