It might be the most meaningful meaningless Test in cricket history.

It was confirmed — to much consternation — in Manchester that Australia would retain the Ashes, its 2-1 series lead unable to be overturned by England with just this final Test at The Oval still to play.

In another year that might be enough to take the temperature down, maybe even set us up for a nice comfy dead rubber after which we can all shake hands and reflect on a series well fought.

But this just isn't that kind of series. The subtext of this series has almost overwhelmed it at times, and it all will come to a head this week at The Oval — Australia's bid for a legacy-defining victory, England's attempt to revolutionise the game, clashes of youth and experience, offence and pragmatism, aggression both passive and outward.

The battle for the Ashes might be settled, but the battle for control of the narrative is just getting started.

That fact was thrown into an immediate spotlight when Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bowl. For Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood — the bowlers among the group of Australians likely to be playing their last Test in England — there was a sense of now or never. Make a statement on day one of this very Test, or end your career with a piece forever missing.

For the most part they held up their end of the bargain. Led by Cummins, who bowled his best spell of the series before lunch, Australia's quicks were much improved on their Old Trafford performances.

Conditions offered just enough support to encourage some full-pitched bowling, and the Aussies responded by peppering the stumps. It wasn't perfect, and at times it still looked a little fatigued, but chances were created at a greater rate than any other period through this tour.

Which makes their lack of support in the field all the more disappointing. Everything was set up for Australia to enjoy a truly dominant day, only for a grand total of five dropped catches to leave the door ajar for England.

The most costly of the drops came from wicketkeeper Alex Carey, who for the first time this tour is looking physically and mentally drained, and allowed Harry Brook to take his score from 5 to 85.

Brook's journey from Edgbaston to The Oval has been an interesting one and has reflected England's steady improvement. A victim of his own enthusiasm at the start of the series, this innings was a far more balanced one, mixing his natural exuberance with a hint of patience and some genuinely good cricket shots.

And then, in true Bazball fashion, he got out just before the job had been fully done.

As has been the way since the very first day of the series, England's full-throttle approach has made for some thrilling cricket but has also hindered its ability to win matches. A rapid 283 after being sent in on day one is not a bad result by any means, but had England batted the day there was 400 on the table.

The day's honours were set to be decided by Australia's two-hour batting stint, and by that measure the tourists probably end the day just barely the happier team.

The requisite David Warner dismissal aside, England was unable to make a significant dent in Australia's top order, but at 1-61 the score has not progressed past a point of comfort for the home side.

It's tense, because these artificial stakes that we've made for ourselves are so high.

If Australia wins this Test and claims a 3-1 series victory, it's probably the greatest achievement by a men's Test side since the 2004 triumph in India and a completion of a career's work for some of the greats of the game.

It would also represent one of the biggest English failures in 20 years, a result not even the most twisted of logic could spin into a positive.

An England win and a 2-2 series would be a tremendous missed opportunity for Australia and would leave a gaping hole in the resume of yet another generation of cricketers.

And at that point England could quite rightly claim a successful series of its own, as fighting back from 2-0 down to draw a series — especially with the other Test rained out for a position of dominance — would be a creditable achievement, albeit perhaps not as game-changingly brilliant as the English would likely have us believe.

So it's more than bragging rights on the line in this Test. These teams are playing for the story of this series, for the future of the game itself and for the lasting memory of their careers.

And after day one, Australia might have a slight edge but it's pretty close to dead even. We have certainly been spoiled rotten by this Ashes series.