Starc shines again and England left to wonder what might have been

"England are talking themselves up more, they’re confident coming to Australia with the group of players they’ve got and fair enough, this is the best team they’ve had probably this century.

- Ali Martin

As Marnus Labuschagne wheeled away in delight after pouching the catch that sealed the Ashes for Australia in tranquil Adelaide, it wasn’t just pre-series optimism from the English - or delusion, as per plenty since - that had been popped into a blender and turned into mush after 11 largely one-sided days.

The above came from Ricky Ponting, one of the sharpest minds in the sport, and reflected belief on both sides of the divide that this time things would be different: that this England team, forged in the image of their aggressive captain, Ben Stokes, and boasting a phalanx of quicks, would be able to compete.

But all this was underpinned by faith in the non-negotiables being in place: that details such as conditioning, workloads and fielding skills would be ticked off; that, despite a positive outlook fostered by Brendon McCullum, pitfalls such as driving on the up in Perth and Brisbane, or the intensity of the spotlight, would be well known.

Instead, following a whirlwind of dropped catches, scattergun seam bowling and general batting confusion, it is Australia who go into Christmas 3-0 up and can start plotting another whitewash. Only the all-time great side led by Steve Waugh in 2001 and 2002-03 have secured the series victory so quickly, while England are now up to 18 Test matches in Australia without a single win.