Final day will define era of Bazball against Australia’s Test orthodoxy

Ben Stokes knows the difference between the disaster of a 3-1 home defeat versus the defiant relief of a hopeful 2-2. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

There was once a dream that was Bazball. You could only whisper it. Anything more than a whisper and it would vanish. And one way or another, it was always coming down to this.

By the time play was abandoned in the afternoon mulch, with Australia on 135 for none in their fourth‑innings chase, the sense of creeping jeopardy could hardly have been greater. Roll on Monday, final staging point in this five‑Test ride. One day left to save the English Ashes summer; and to save a few other things too.