Time has travelled at break neck speed at times during this Ashes series: it seems like only yesterday that fans were debating the selection of Agar over Lyon for the first test. All of a sudden the Fourth Test is upon us from the Chester-le-Street ground in Durham. The good news that this brings is that Australian fans are only 2 test matches away from hosting the return battle between these two teams.

The Ashes will remain in the hands of England regardless of the result of the next two test matches but for the Australians there is much to be gained from pushing for a draw in this series, particularly given the thoughts of most when it came to Australia’s prospects at the start of the tour and again after the Lords debacle.

Here are my keys to victory for the fourth test:

1. The Pitch: Reports from England suggest that the pitch that has been presented for this fixture again meets the guidelines for pitches set by Andy Flower and the ECB: it is again dry and hard. Only four test matches have been played at this venue and all of them have been won by England. That said I do not really consider there to be a form line coming from this result given that past combatants at the ground were Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and the West Indies. Wicket takers at the ground have been the fast bowlers rather than the spinners so the doctoring of the pitch may have little play in the result. That said, if the wicket turns, as it would appear it is designed to do, the match will really be in the hand of Graeme Swann.

2. England’s tactics: There is less to be gained for England in a win than in just playing for a draw given that they have already won the Ashes. The English can afford to play defensive cricket and are, seemingly, quite proficient at it. That said, a negative or defensive mindset may play right into the hands of Australia who will be going all out for a victory.

3. The Toss: The winner of the toss in each test match has been the team in this series so far that has had the better of the test. This again looks like a test match where the team batting first will be very difficult to best. That team will be looking to score, as a minimum, 400 and bat midway into the second day.

4. Is Ryan Harris fit? The best bowler in the third test was Ryan Harris and he has a history of not playing three test matches consecutively. If he plays for Australia in this test match it will be a massive fillup for the team. This focus on Harris is not to say that Jackson Bird will not be a good replacement however Harris provides an X factor to the Australian team which is hard to define. Simply, if Harris is in the team I think Australia has a better chance of victory.

5. Can Jimmy bounce back? England’s best bowler and a bowler many argue is a better bowler than Dale Steyn (I respectfully disagree) had a test match he would rather forget at Old Trafford. 0/116 off 33 overs does not make for pretty reading and whilst he secured two wickets in the second innings they were when Australia was chasing fast runs and where lower order. When Anderson bowls well and takes wickets England are very tough to beat.

This will be another enthralling test match. For England there is an 11 game streak of failing to lose a game at stake whilst Australia is trying to avoid adding to a 7 game losing streak. Cue the late nights, coffee and banter!