It took 12 days for Australia to retain the Ashes on home soil 18 months ago, and while nothing so definitive has occurred here yet, only eight days into this series, it is starting to drift ominously the same way.
After three days of the Lord’s Test, the tourists are in control, 221 runs ahead with eight second innings wickets still in hand, firm favourites go 2-0 up in the series and leave Ben Stokes needing to lead the kind of comeback that has been conjured only once in the rivalry’s history.
