Ashes 2017/18 - Gabba Day 5 - Australia Take Ashes Lead

Unbeaten overnight, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft saw Australia safely past the total inside just 16 overs on the final day. The Barmy Army showed up in numbers hoping to see England at least take a few wickets and send out a statement of intent but it wasn't to be, The Gabbatoir forcing England to wait at least another four years for a chance to reverse the one-way form guide in the Queensland capital.

And so the focus shifts to South Australia for the first ever Ashes match to be played as a Day/Night fixture with the Pink Kookaburra Turf ball. Australia have now played a three Test matches under lights and have prevailed, England just once against a very weak West Indies side just a few months ago. The toss will, as ever, be crucial. Logic suggests that the anticipated bowling conditions will suit James Anderson and Stuart Broad, but Hazlewood, Cummins and Starc will doubtless be licking their lips at the prospect.

England have a conundrum; Chris Woakes was strangely off-colour and Jake Ball's inexperience showed at times, but perhaps it's still too early to chop and change. Unless Ben Stokes is Australia-bound imminently the only potential change would be Craig Overton to come in for Jake Ball to give some control and a little aggression. He is an "in-your-face" cricketer and it's that kind of character that the Three Lions need. Botham, Flintoff, Darren Gough, Kevin Pietersen are all of the same ilk as Craig Overton, and an exuberant debutant who won't shy away from a challenge can lift a side. Overton's accuracy in the County Championship and the Ashes warm-ups could, and perhaps should, be rewarded with a chance to shine in Adelaide.

Whether it is an Australian media fabrication or not, unwanted attention has been brought on Jonny Bairstow. Allegedly the England wicket-keeper had a coming together with Cameron Bancroft over in Perth a few weeks ago and the players themselves have already described it as a non-event. However following the Ben Stokes controversy the Australian media will jump on any opportunity to destabilise the visitors and further heap on the mental pressures that these contests apply.

Australia will almost certainly go into Adelaide unchanged, just about everyone other than Khawaja and Handscomb contributed in some way to the hosts comprehensive victory. Having said that, Glenn Maxwell will be in the ears of anyone with selection contacts after slamming a 318-ball 278 for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield, quietly ignoring the second innings 16 in the same game against New South Wales. For all England's failing in this match, it would be unwise to discount them at this stage. Should they fail to win in Adelaide though, questions will need answering with increasing urgency. The one I am tempted to ask is to the British Airways booking office... "Can you please confirm the booking details for a Mr B Stokes?"

Advantage: Kangaroo.

Australia 1-0 England.