England spin bowler Graeme Swann has thanked the Manchester rain after heavy downpours caused the third Ashes Test to be abandoned.

The umpires stopped play shortly after lunch on day five with Australia in the driving seat, as they desperately tried to save the series.

No more play was feasible, however, as the match ended in a draw to ensure that England retained the Ashes with two Tests left to play, a result that Swann was delighted with.

"Many times I have cursed the rain in Manchester, but today I would take it home to meet my grandma and marry it," he wrote on Twitter.

Teammate Stuart Broad also took to Twitter to express his delight at having kept the urn in England.

"We have retained the Ashes and it feels magnificent!!!" tweeted the fast bowler.

Meanwhile, England have called up Chris Tremlett and Graham Onions for the fourth Ashes Test, which starts on Friday.