England in search of history
England may have already regained the Ashes but captain Alastair Cook is determined not to let-up when they face Australia in the fifth and final Test at The Oval on Thursday -- a match that marks rival skipper Michael Clarke's farewell to international cricket.
Cook's men triumphed by an innings and 78 runs in the fourth Test at Trent Bridge to take a winning 3-1 lead in the series after Australia, with England paceman Stuart Broad taking a stunning eight for 15, were dismissed for just 60 in 111 balls on the opening morning -- the shortest completed first innings of any Test.
No England side has ever won four Tests in a home Ashes series. 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.
Taking this series 4-1 would certainly go some way to avenging the memory of the 5-0 whitewash inflicted upon England in Australia some 18 months ago.
"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.
"Certainly those of us involved in that 5-0 loss (in 2013-14) feel that determination to make this a good week," he added.
However, things will not be as easy for England as they will have to do without their strike bowler James Anderson, who has failed to recover fully from a side strain, Cook said Wednesday.
Anderson, who suffered the injury in the third Test at Edgbaston, was still around a week away from full fitness, added Cook. He only returned to bowl in the nets on Tuesday.
They have another major selection decision to make -- whether they should give a Test debut to leg-spinner Adil Rashid.
Trevor Bayliss, England's Australian coach, has spoken all series of how he is prepared to play two spinners and Rashid would certainly come into consideration against Pakistan in the UAE, where the pitches assist slow bowlers.
On the other hand, Clarke, one of Australia's greatest batsmen will be desperate to finish with a flourish as indeed will opener Chris Rogers, who is also retiring from international cricket after the fifth Test.
"I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a lot of disappointment amongst the group," said Rogers, with Australia now having lost four successive Ashes series in England.
"We came here to win and we've been outplayed. It's been a difficult week. A lot of guys have felt a bit flat, I imagine."
"This is a big last game. Obviously it's Michael's retirement as well, but not only that, there's places up for grabs in this side. No one's taking that for granted," Rogers added.
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