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England believe a 2-2 Ashes scoreline would be the fairest result for the series, adamant the final Test at The Oval is no dead rubber.
Key points:
- Old Trafford's washout means England cannot win the Ashes back after Australia won the first two Tests
- England players and supporters have been bullish in their belief that they have been the better team
- Australia is set to face a choice between Mitch Marsh and Cameron Green for the final Test at The Oval
Australia enter the finale with almost everything still to strive for, up 2-1 but driven by the desire to win their first Ashes series in England in 22 years.
England, in contrast, cannot walk away with Ashes urn and are instead attempting to save face with a second straight drawn series at home.
But the hosts do not see it that way.
Players and fans are insistent they have matched it with Australia through the whole series, following three thrilling Tests at Edgbaston, Lord's and Headingley.
The hosts also outplayed Australia at Old Trafford before rain forced a draw, re-enforcing England's belief they deserve to finish level on the scoreboard.
"I think 2-2 would be fair," opener Zak Crawley said.
"They had the better of us at Lord's, Edgbaston could have gone either way, we probably deserved this one (at Old Trafford) and Headingley could have gone either way.
"We're disappointed. We wanted to win, we were in a good position to win, and two days of rain cost us. But that's how it is.
"We're massively up for [The Oval]. Any game, you want to win.
"It felt like we were getting on top of them for sure and if we'd won this game it would have been very interesting to see."
England named an unchanged 14-man squad for the fifth Test, with bowling all-rounder Chris Woakes under an injury cloud after pulling up sore from Old Trafford.
James Anderson's spot is also under a cloud following an underwhelming series, with questions over how much longer the 41-year-old will continue.
That has put quicks Josh Tongue and Ollie Robinson both back in the frame, after Tongue impressed at Lord's and Robinson recovered from back spasms at Headingley.
Crawley's spot is in no such doubt, with the English opener now the leading run-scorer in the series with 385 at an average of 55 following his lightning-fast 189 at Old Trafford.
The 25-year-old believes Australia's attack suits his game, a point emphasised by the fact his captain Ben Stokes claimed on Sunday that Crawley made Australia look a second XI side at times.
"Fast bowling suits my game and the Australian attack is a quick attack. I think a bit less when they're faster," Crawley said.
Australia face tough call between Marsh and Green
Australia would be prepared to play Mitch Marsh as a specialist batter and pick only four bowlers for The Oval, if the in-form all-rounder pulls up lame from Old Trafford.
Marsh lingers as one of Australia's two big fitness concerns for Thursday's fifth Test, with the other being Mitchell Starc's left shoulder after he was injured in Manchester.
Medical staff are confident that Starc will be fine to play at The Oval, after overcoming damage to his AC joint and continuing bowling the following day last week.
Marsh's fitness could have more significant ramifications, however, as Australia eye off their first outright Ashes series victory in England in 22 years with a win or draw.
One Test after playing both Marsh and fellow all-rounder Cameron Green in Manchester, it's likely selectors will have to pick between the pair if they bring in Todd Murphy at The Oval.
Australia are yet to see the pitch for the final Test of the series, but the south London ground is renowned as one of the more spin-friendly venues in England.
If a selection squeeze is in place between Marsh and Green, the former has made a near-irresistible case to be the front-runner.
After he scored 118 while filling in for Green at Headingley, Australia may not have retained the Ashes with a draw at Old Trafford if not for Marsh's unbeaten 31 on day four.
In contrast, Green has not had the series he would have liked, averaging 20.6 with the bat and taking four wickets at 47 with the ball.
The only issue for Australia could be Marsh's ability to bowl.
Medical staff will keep a close eye on him in the lead up to Thursday, after he spent time off the field on day three with stiffness in Manchester and did not bowl after that.
If the issues continued, it could potentially leave Australia without a fourth seamer if Marsh was picked ahead of Green.
But despite that, McDonald said it would not necessarily prove an obstacle for Marsh.
"He's a little bit sore, hence why he was off the field. So I'm not going to hide that," McDonald said.
"Does it impact his position in the team? I think the team has played three quicks and one spinner, if we go that way, numerous times in the past.
"We have had the luxury of all-rounders, or in particular Cameron Green, that's changed the shape of the team over time.
"But I mean, runs are premium first and foremost."
Australia's young prodigy as an all-rounder a few months ago, Green now faces the possibility of time spent as Marsh's understudy.
The 24-year-old's dip in form comes during a six-month period where he has spent two nights in his own bed, with a Test series in India and the IPL.
"People probably draw some conclusions that that's affected the way he's gone about things here," McDonald said.
"But it's a little bit like Steve Smith, I think he's in a good space. He's working hard on his game.
"A lot of our batters are working on the right things and the way they go about it and runs are just around the corner."
The fifth Ashes Test at The Oval begins Thursday night (AEST). Join Simon Smale, Jon Healy and Dean Bilton as they cover each night of action at abc.net.au/sport
AAP
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