It is trite to say it but if the Ashes are staying in England what really is the interest for Australia and its fans in the last two test matches of the series? That statement belies the fact that no Australian cricketer, pundit or fan would accept anything other than a supreme effort against the English and a focus on beating the enemy that they are. That said: when I started thinking about this post I was definitely in the camp of using the next two test matches to experiment with the line up to find what is our best line up in advance of the “return” bout between the two teams starting in Australia in November.

With that in mind I was pondering resting Ryan Harris for the next test match, both to rest his injury prone body and at give Jackson Bird a run. I was also going to suggest that James Faulkner be given a run to give him experience and that the batting order be tinkered so as to give Matthew Wade a run and to try Phil Hughes in his “best” position (opening).

Then I had an epiphany of sorts: one of my biggest complaints as a fan of the game and someone who blogs about it is that Australia has, in recent years, changed its teams, at times, with an alacrity akin to that of the Red Bull pit crew (except when it is Mark Webber’s tires they are changing), particularly when the team has been losing. By extension I have complained vociferously that the Australian NSP has made too many changes and has not stuck with players. To go down the path of using the next two games as trial games of sorts would have been to suggest that the Cricket Australia do exactly that which I have been so swift to lament.

That being the case, my immediate answer to the question I pose is this: from Australia I want to see more of exactly the same as that which we saw at Old Trafford and I want to see if from the same team, injury permitting. My premise is, if this is the best team Australia can put on the field then the selectors need to stick with that team and back it to win.

Of course I am worried about Ryan Harris and his knee BUT the importance of getting on a roll against England in advance of the “return bout” in Australia and to have the team that played so well in Old Trafford build into a consistent unit in advance of that bout at Chester-le-Street and the Oval is more important than being conservative in the “management” player health.

So, on the premise that Australia must select the same team as that which played at Old Trafford and does so, what else must we see from the Australian team for this tour to be considered to be a success? Here are the three further things I want to see from the Australian team:

1. Australia needs to win: It is all well and good for Australia to lift their performance like they did in Old Trafford. However, performing better than expected and not winning is only a habit that can go on so long. The losing streak of this streak (draws including) is becoming ever longer and a win would do wonders for the confidence of a rebuilding team.

2. A hundred from a batsman OTHER than M Clarke: Michael Clarke continues to score runs in difficult circumstances. The fact is that the last time an Australia batter other than Michael Clarke scored a hundred was 22 innings ago on 22 November 2012. Someone else needs to share the load of scoring runs for Australia and take some of the pressure of the Captain and his ailing back.

3. The Captain supporting the spinner: I mentioned in my post from earlier today that I did not think that Michael Clarke had captained Nathan Lyon particularly well at Old Trafford. Limited bowling time on day 3 when the “going got tough” was a strange move and smacked of the Captain not particularly supporting his spinner. This must change in these coming two tests because there are at least 3 test matches in Australia where the bowling of a spinner will be vital to victory.

So there is my wish list: the same team, a win, a hundred and the spinner getting a fair go. If that it what Australia presents in the next two games then I will be very happy and a reckon most Australian pundits and fans will be too.