Stokes key to future – and Sydney could be decisive

In fairness to Australian cricket, it rarely sticks its head in the sand.

- Ali Martin

Yesterday in Melbourne, when 90,000 fans should have been enjoying day three of the fourth Test, they put Matt Page, chief curator at the MCG, in front of the media to face a grilling over that casino of a two-day pitch.

Page was contrite, admitted his mistakes, and vowed to never repeat the 10mm of grass that, while designed to guard against hotter weather later in the match, delivered a second hammer blow to Cricket Australia’s finances this series. For all the public anger Stuart Fox, the ground’s chief executive, did not sound as if he was about to issue Page with his marching orders.

Aberrations happen, people are only human and everyone deserves a second chance. Fair enough. The question now for English cricket is whether the four-wicket victory that they achieved through such an absurd seamer-friendly shootout is enough to similarly mean the status quo holding.

After all, even 3-1 down in a series that was lost in a record-equalling 11 days, this is now officially England’s most successful Ashes tour for 15 years. Stuart Broad was lampooned for saying this was the worst Australia side to play for the urn on home soil since 2010-11 - England the best to pitch up - but, technically at least, the numbers now support him.