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| Mitchell Marsh could replace older brother Shaun, while host has to take a call on fielding James Anderson |
England won by an innings and 78 runs in the fourth Test at Trent Bridge to take an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the series after Australia, with Stuart Broad taking a stunning 8 for 15, was dismissed for just 60 in 111 balls on the morning of the first day.
No England side has ever won four Tests in a home Ashes series. But it is now within sight of its biggest margin of victory since the Mike Brearley-led side won 5-1 against an Australia weakened by defections to World Series Cricket in 1978-79.Around 18 months ago, Australia had beaten England
5-0 to win the Ashes at home.
But Pat Howard, the CA performance director, is hopeful of an Australian victory at the Oval, which would make the scoreline 3-2 in England’s favour. “3-2 is, for me, (is) very different to 4-1," said Howard. "We remain second in the world to South Africa if we win at The Oval. So I think we have to make sure we take in the whole series together."
As far as selection decisions are concerned, England has two major ones to make – whether to recall James Anderson, its all-time leading wicket-taker who missed the fourth Test because of a side injury, and whether it should give a Test debut to Adil Rashid, the leg-spinner.
Given how well England's face bowlers, led by Stuart Broad, performed in Anderson's absence, there seems little point in rushing the spearhead back ahead of tours to the United Arab Emirates and South Africa, even though Mark Wood, the third seamer in the England playing XI, did say that if fit, Anderson should return to the field.
Trevor Bayliss, England's coach, has spoken all series of how he is prepared to play two spinners and Rashid would certainly come into consideration against Pakistan in the UAE, where the pitches assist slow bowlers.
There has been talk of how England could promote Moeen Ali to open in place of the struggling Adam Lyth to make space for Rashid to play as well.
Meanwhile, Australia's top order had another disappointing week as its side was nearly made to follow-on by an under-strength Northamptonshire last weekend.
Clarke, one of Australia's greatest batsmen, would be desperate to finish with a flourish as indeed would Chris Rogers, who is also retiring from international cricket after the fifth Test.
Mitchell Marsh is set to replace older brother Shaun, while Pat Cummins, restricted to a lone Test against South Africa in November 2011 because of fitness problems, could come in for Josh Hazlewood, struggling with shin soreness.
Incidentally, Australia has now lost four successive Ashes series in England.
Source: ICC