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England drop Chris Woakes for Somerset bowler• Australia likely to bring back Starc for fourth Ashes Test
The challenge for England is to win conventionally, without the necessity of a superhuman performance from one of their players to get them over the line. That tends to happen just once or twice in a generation. They desperately need runs from fresh sources. The challenge for Australia is to forget.
They must forget how they bowled England out for 67 in the first innings at Headingley, how they needed just one more wicket with a lead of 72 runs to retain the Ashes and how despite much sweat and toil on that fairytale, final afternoon they somehow lost the match. How that hurts. Justin Langer, endearingly candid, admitted he felt physically sick when the match was “stolen”. Since then he has been working hard to ensure that his team can regroup and achieve their goal. In isolation that is not so difficult. One win at Old Trafford or the Oval will suffice. Yet there must remain the nagging feeling among the tourists that by now they should be luxuriating in the knowledge the task is complete.