The fifth Test of the 2015 Ashes unfortunately can have no say on the final home of the urn, after England took an insurmountable 3-1 series lead at Trent Bridge in the fourth Test.
But while the Test at The Oval may well be a dead rubber, there’s every chance of some good cricket being played.
You see it so often and across virtually every sporting code – the team or the player realise they’re out of contention, have nothing to lose, so they relax and start playing without fear.
We’ve seen it before, whether it was Steve Waugh’s rut-breaking knock at the SCG in 2003, or Steve Smith’s breakthrough 138 here at The Oval back in 2013.
Australia face a tough task to be competitive at The Oval, with the pitch expected to be like those at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge, where Australia’s Ashes hopes were destroyed after meek batting collapses.
Furthermore, The Oval hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Australia in recent years, with just one Ashes win at the venue since 1972.
Even though the series is effectively over, we’ve still got a point of pride to play for in terms of the ICC Test rankings, in which Australia and England remain neck and neck for second place behind South Africa.
Win and Australia will retain second place, draw and we will remain narrowly ahead, while a loss would see England leapfrog us.
A touring Australian side has never lost more than three Tests in a series, either, so there’s that bit of history to play for as well.
No doubt the biggest motivation for the Australians however will be to send off retiring champions Michael Clarke and Chris Rogers with a win.
Clarke still has a chance to become the ninth Australian to finish his career with a batting average above 50, though he needs 122 runs in the Test without being dismissed in either innings – that rises to 172 if dismissed once, 222 if twice.
Given his poor form in the series that doesn’t seem likely, though with the pressure relieved you wouldn’t rule out a good finish for Clarke. Regardless, Clarke will be remembered, if not fondly by all, as an important figure in Australian cricket.
Rogers will leave a legacy as a late bloomer who proved himself more than worthy of his spot as an opener. A vital part of Australia’s 5-0 Ashes winning side in the 2013-14 series, Rogers has plenty to be proud of as he prepares to step aside.
Mitchell Marsh is likely to come into the side for the Aussies, following Darren Lehmann’s admission that the selectors made a mistake in leaving him out of the Trent Bridge side. Pat Cummins will likely come in for Josh Hazlewood, missing through injury.
Jimmy Anderson is likely to return for England after missing the fourth Test due to injury, with leg-spinning allrounder Adil Rashid a chance to debut.
The end of an era, the beginning of a new, or something in between – who knows what we’ll see at The Oval. Here’s hoping we witness a dead rubber come to life.
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