 Australia retained their 2–0 lead in the 1989 Ashes series after the third test.England went into the fourth test still 2–0 down in the series, but knowing they had been reprieved by the weather in the third, and in desperate need of a win to get back into the series.Their only hopes of retaining the Ashes were by winning at least two of the remaining three tests, and at least leveling the series.