The Fourth Test in Sydney is a great metaphor for Australia’s handling of the pandemic. By world standards, Australia’s COVID-19-related death rate has been outstanding; so outstanding, the total number of deaths went down last year, despite the growing and ageing population.

As with its management of the pandemic, Australia has overwhelmingly won the Ashes series and gets to keep the little urn. But that didn’t stop Australia needing something to bash itself up over – again. No, despite the dreary summer skies and rain-interrupted play, Australia had to go for a clean-sweep, 5-0 defeat. No mercy to be shown to our colonial oppressors.