Here we are then at the Oval, a mighty cricket ground these days and the traditional scene of summer’s end. That it comes in the final week of July comes down to a schedule designed to give the Hundred its own window in August, crunching down the men’s Ashes to make it as exhausting for the players as it has been exhilarating for onlookers.
Australia sit 2-1 up, the urn secured once more after the soggy, sorry draw at Old Trafford last weekend. Back at the venue where they were crowned world Test champions just seven weeks ago, and with another sell-out crowd confirmed, the tourists can claim their first series victory in England since 2001, killing the last remaining English bragging rights at having won away more recently in 2010-11.
