Australia have been fresher and renewed under their new captain, Pat Cummins. Every selection has come off, and all players have contributed at some point. Justin Langer looks certain to leave his job, despite winning a World Cup and Ashes, yet it is barely an issue, such is the confidence in the future under Cummins. Usman Khawaja plays for Travis Head due to his Covid diagnosis and Scott Boland may well find his fairytale on hold despite his six for seven. Jhye Richardson’s pace may edge him out. How England would like such luxury. 

They are likely to pick the same top six as Melbourne, despite the 68 all out in the second innings, and Broad or Chris Woakes for Ollie Robinson may be the only change. 

The one-sided nature of the series has not deterred local interest. Television ratings on Fox, the pay-per-view channel, and Seven have broken records, crowds of 35,000 are expected at the SCG despite the city’s Covid crisis and the fifth Test in Hobart will be the biggest sporting event the city has hosted. “The Ashes is so important to Australia and England cricket and fans,” McGrath said in Melbourne. “They want to see a good close contest.” 

Sydney is probably too soon to erase the memory of Melbourne, especially given the nature of preparations, with few coaches on the ground to help players used to not thinking for themselves anymore. But just someone scoring a hundred or taking five wickets would be a start.

England (likely): Hameed, Crawley, Malan, Root, Stokes, Bairstow, Buttler, Wood, Broad, Leach, Anderson.

Australia (likely): Warner, Harris, Labuschagne, Smith, Khawaja, Green, Carey, Cummins, Starc, RIchardson, Lyon.