Anderson out of final Ashes Test

Australia started that series badly, but by the end of it had improved markedly and sown the seeds of the whitewash to follow.

How the series has changed since then.

“He’s gutted about it”, Cook said of his long-time teammate Anderson.

Joe Root has led the charge, scoring two tons to be the leading run-scorer and Stuart Broad’s main rival for man-of-the-series honours. They have trained an extra day and there is a steely determination among the group.

“And we have options as well, especially with Liam Plunkett we have good strength and depth in our bowling”.

Clarke declined to comment on his thoughts on the composition on the Australian pace attack.

But what happens in south London over the next five days is still crucial to how England progress going forward.

Rogers had to score nearly 8000 runs in the Sheffield Shield and county cricket before he got his test chance in early 2008.

“If the rugby team does well also, we’ll have two very good role models”.

Australia captain Michael Clarke accepted there would be no storybook ending to his worldwide career but said he still hoped his side could salvage a win.

For Clarke, this series has been a horror story with the bat.

“Michael was more your 21st century captain”.

The former Reds manager even had time to cast his eye over the England cricketers’ warm-up football kickabout-with the likes of Adam Lyth and Jonny Bairstow having being promising soccer players in their youth.

The left-hander is also top of Australia’s tour averages, with 437 runs at more than 62 per innings.

He is enthused by a series of impressive individual and team performances en route to 2015 Ashes glory, and optimistic about further strides which can be made.

He added: “It’s been great but it’s the right time for the team and for me to step away from the game”. The Aussies were relentless 18 months ago when they defeated England in Melbourne and Sydney after reclaiming the Ashes in Perth and Cook wants England to copy that example.

Hodgson was diplomatic, however, about who had most caught his eye. It’s amusing how things work out.

But after a curtailed net session on the eve of the match the 33-year-old seamer was ruled out, meaning Mark Wood – who took the final wicket in Nottingham – will retain his place barring any late scares. Pat Cummins will come in for Josh Hazlewood, missing through injury. That is not how you go into a game.

“That’s going to be the sad part – but I’ve had enough of them now… and I can be happy with that”. They’ve got a good relationship. A dry pitch at Lord’s led to a heavy defeat; they will not want to make the same mistake again.

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.

Regaining the urn this summer has been a remarkable turnaround for Cook, who took over as captain in August 2012.

The contrast between the two teams could not be starker.

“I don’t want to miss games for England”.