An Ashes series that has lurched and swerved like a caravan careering down the pacific highway now heads into its final day with only a couple of things guaranteed: Pat Cummins will lift a replica Ashes urn at the end and Stuart Broad will hang up his boots.
Beyond those small matters there is glorious uncertainty as to the result of the fifth Test at the Oval and thus the final scoreline of a series Australia lead 2-1. It follows a rain-shortened fourth day in which a touching guard of honour for Broad first thing was as far as Australia were prepared to go in terms of accommodating his grand farewell.
