England players celebrate in gloomy Manchester Cursory celebration: England players (from R) Kevin Pietersen, and Matt Prior after play is abandoned. As the gloomy weather set in at Old Trafford on Monday, England's hold on the Ashes confirmed via a damp draw, the British atheist Richard Dawkins took to social media. "Feel ashamed to be a Pom: such lack of sportsmanship, rejoicing at rain stopping play. & if they'd do the same, they should be ashamed too," he tweeted. Graeme Swann poses for a photo with a fan. Photo: reuters Deflation is all Australia felt. The heavens were against them on the final day of the third Test - although Dawkins would probably describe the intervention from above differently. The match was abandoned in mid-afternoon, allowing England to retain the Ashes thanks to an unassailable 2-0 lead with two matches to play. Australia had dominated in Manchester, reducing England to 3-37 but three balls after the resumption from lunch, rain arrived, and their tilt at victory was over. Only 20.3 overs were bowled for the day. James Anderson and Joe Root of England sign a cardboard cut-out of Geoffrey Boycott. Photo: Michael Steele It was an anti-climax to what might have been a gripping afternoon but there was jubilation from England, who had thrashed Australia at Lord's and won narrowly at Trent Bridge. "We have retained the Ashes and it feels magnificent!!!" fast bowler Stuart Broad tweeted. "Many times I have cursed the rain in Manchester, but today I would take it home to meet my grandma and marry it," added spinner Graeme Swann. Celebrations were subdued at Old Trafford. The England players appeared briefly on their team balcony, acknowledged the crowd and left; there were not the wild celebrations of their previous keeping of the urn in Sydney back in January 2011 but they circled the boundary to thank spectators and sign autographs. The Ashes will not officially be presented to England captain Alastair Cook until the final day of the fifth Test at the Oval later this month but there was already a sense of satisfaction on Monday from former England players. Rain saves Aussies today at Old Trafford so will have to settle for 9 nil.... !! Ashes retained.....3 out of 3......!! Ian Botham tweeted. Michael Vaughan, another ex-England captain, tweeted: "Retained," before adding: "Sorry should have said.... Another to voice his pleasure at the downpour was former England batsman Paul Collingwood who said on the social media site: "In the tune from Travis. Why does it always rain on me, is it because I am an Aussie......it has a ring to it. The British Prime Minister David Cameron, not the first head of government from the two countries to comment on the third Test, also weighed in after the match was called off. And to think some people criticise the British weather. Congratulations to our cricketers on retaining the #Ashes.