After defeating the Aussies in the Boxing Day test match in Melbourne by an innings and 157 runs, England look on course fo
r a series win and a convincing one at that. England currently lead the series 2-1 and with the ashes already retained bookmakers are putting their eggs firmly in England’s basket to go and win the fifth and final test in Sydney on January 3rd.
England however have not won an ashes series in Australia since 1987 and this will be in the back of the players minds come the start of the final test match. Up to this point however, Australia have looked far from convincing and a shadow of their former self since the retirements of greats including Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Mathew Hayden and Justin Langer who have massive shoes to replace.
Such exclusions from the team have left the Australian team in somewhat of a transitional period and dropped to fifth in the world, their lowest test ranking for many years.
The Aussie press have been calling for the head of cricketing great and current captain Ricky Pointing for some time and by default via a broken finger, look set to get their wish as the Aussie skipper struggles to be fit in time for the final test.
