So what will happen now? Will England build on that magical last hour at Headingley and take control of the Ashes at Old Trafford to stoke the cricket fever sweeping the country? Or will they be rubbish again, as they were in that awful first innings?Frankly, with this England team, it is impossible to predict. We certainly cannot rely on the 'momentum' being with them, because that is an alien concept to a side who, under Joe Root, have embarked on a rollercoaster ride of Test highs and lows.What is certain is that Wednesday's fourth Test is the most eagerly anticipated in this country since those heady days of 2005, when thousands were turned away on the final day at this same ground with Ashes fever at its peak. It will be a redeveloped and greatly enhanced Old Trafford that will be packed to the rafters again on Wednesday to see if England can complete a summer that would eclipse even Michael Vaughan's golden year if they pull off both World Cup and Ashes triumphs.And those lucky enough to be in the crowd for each of the first four sold-out days could not have a more enticing prospect in front of them on Wednesday, with the Ashes balanced on a knife-edge at 1-1 with two Tests to play.The expectation will surely be at its most fervent when Jofra Archer runs in to bowl his first ball at Steve Smith since hitting him on the back of the neck at Lord's and knocking him out of the third Test.And how about when Ben Stokes walks in to 'resume' the extraordinary batting that saw him produce one of the greatest of all Test innings at Headingley in what became one of the greatest of all Test matches?Equally, there will be plenty of England players with much to prove, not least the latest opening partnership of Rory Burns and Joe Denly, who will face their own trial by short ball at the hands of Australia's outstanding attack.Then there is the question of whether Jason Roy can flourish down the order at four after England abandoned their experiment of asking one of the great white-ball opening destroyers to repeat the trick against the moving Test ball. England sprang a surprise on Tuesday when Root said Craig Overton would play here in place of Chris Woakes, who has looked mentally and physically shot after the extreme efforts of winning the World Cup.There is no doubt England want to get Sam Curran, last year's man of the Test summer against India, back into the side. But they feel this is not the right pitch or venue for him to act as their third seamer. So opportunity knocks for Somerset all-rounder Overton, who made a decent impression in his three Tests in Australia and New Zealand in a losing cause — not least in making Smith his first Test victim — without ever confirming he is Test class.Certainly injuries have left England short of fast-bowling options but there are those in Sussex who could point to an equally tall and bouncy bowler, Ollie Robinson, as a viable alternative after his 54 Championship wickets in eight games this season
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So what will happen now? Will England build on that magical last hour at Headingley and take control of the Ashes at Old Trafford to stoke the cricket fever sweeping the country? Or will they be rubbish again, as they were in that awful first innings?Frankly, with this England team, it is impossible to predict. We certainly cannot rely on the 'momentum' being with them, because that is an alien concept to a side who, under Joe Root, have embarked on a rollercoaster ride of Test highs and lows.What is certain is that Wednesday's fourth Test is the most eagerly anticipated in this country since those heady days of 2005, when thousands were turned away on the final day at this same ground with Ashes fever at its peak. It will be a redeveloped and greatly enhanced Old Trafford that will be packed to the rafters again on Wednesday to see if England can complete a summer that would eclipse even Michael Vaughan's golden year if they pull off both World Cup and Ashes triumphs.And those lucky enough to be in the crowd for each of the first four sold-out days could not have a more enticing prospect in front of them on Wednesday, with the Ashes balanced on a knife-edge at 1-1 with two Tests to play.The expectation will surely be at its most fervent when Jofra Archer runs in to bowl his first ball at Steve Smith since hitting him on the back of the neck at Lord's and knocking him out of the third Test.And how about when Ben Stokes walks in to 'resume' the extraordinary batting that saw him produce one of the greatest of all Test innings at Headingley in what became one of the greatest of all Test matches?Equally, there will be plenty of England players with much to prove, not least the latest opening partnership of Rory Burns and Joe Denly, who will face their own trial by short ball at the hands of Australia's outstanding attack.Then there is the question of whether Jason Roy can flourish down the order at four after England abandoned their experiment of asking one of the great white-ball opening destroyers to repeat the trick against the moving Test ball. England sprang a surprise on Tuesday when Root said Craig Overton would play here in place of Chris Woakes, who has looked mentally and physically shot after the extreme efforts of winning the World Cup.There is no doubt England want to get Sam Curran, last year's man of the Test summer against India, back into the side. But they feel this is not the right pitch or venue for him to act as their third seamer. So opportunity knocks for Somerset all-rounder Overton, who made a decent impression in his three Tests in Australia and New Zealand in a losing cause — not least in making Smith his first Test victim — without ever confirming he is Test class.Certainly injuries have left England short of fast-bowling options but there are those in Sussex who could point to an equally tall and bouncy bowler, Ollie Robinson, as a viable alternative after his 54 Championship wickets in eight games this season
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