Australia to rest Josh Hazlewood for final Ashes Test

Throw in the controversy which raged over the sacking of Kevin Pietersen and England’s refusal to go back on that decision, and it is easy to see why Cook might have entertained occasional doubts. But they are now within sight of their biggest margin of victory since Mike Brearley led England to a 5-1 success down under against an Australia side weakened by defections to the “rebel” World Series Cricket in 1978-79.

England paceman James Anderson will miss the Oval Test after failing to recover fully from a side strain. “He will probably get his chance in Abu Dhabi”.

He was therefore comparatively at ease on the eve of the fifth Investec Test as he made it clear his crises of confidence are in the past.

“Cooky rang me the next day”, he said. “A lot of guys have felt a bit flat, I imagine”.

The Aussies’ ageing side has been found out in English conditions while the young guns in the home ranks have finally shown their true colours and most things seem rosy in the England camp at present.

For Clarke, his 115th Test will be his last match in Australia colours before the 34-year-old star batsman retires from worldwide duty. There was none of the emotion of Trent Bridge as he looked on at life without cricket.

“Unfortunately, he’s not going to make it”, Cook told reporters. “He bowled in the nets yesterday but at about 60-70 percent and that’s not how you go into a game”.

There will, however, be a chance at The Oval for Cook’s opening partner Adam Lyth to put his run of mediocre form behind him.

“He’s improved leaps and bounds”, said Cook.

“It’s tough when your first seven games are against the bowlers he has faced, but he has to clear that out of his mind”.

There had been speculation that Yorkshire leg-spinner Adil Rashid might make his Test debut at The Oval ahead of tours of the United Arab Emirates and South Africa later this year.

“He’s an Ashes-winning player and he can be very proud of that”.

“The past couple of Tests in particular have only gone 2 days…”

“Cooky called us all on Tuesday, to say: “Let’s make sure we turn up knowing that we’re in a battle and that we want to start again, Because I’ve got a burning desire for this to be 4-1”, Broad said.