Analysis: All is never quite as it seems in this Ashes series as dramatic finish awaits

Very little in this Ashes series has been straightforward, so is there one more plot twist set to come? DANIEL CHERNY analyses the state of play ahead of a thrilling finale.

At stumps on Saturday, things were trending away from Australia.

A comfortable series lead had gradually eroded. The Ashes retained, yes, but hopes of realising the loftier goal of an outright victory had faded.

A marker of the Aussies’ frustrations at their plight came in the way Usman Khawaja and in particular Marnus Labuschagne reacted to a rather mild sledge of “boring” directed at them from the crowd as they walked up the steps back to their rooms at The Oval after play on day three.

While important to remember this had come against the backdrop of the unsightly events at Lord’s, it is hard to imagine the pair would have been as perturbed if they weren’t staring down a run chase of almost 400.

Neither history nor the trajectory of the series painted a bright picture for the Aussies. Only once in history had an Australian team run down more to win a Test, and that side had the rather handy benefit of containing Don Bradman.

Usman Khawaja and Australia are eyeing Ashes history. Picture: Getty Images

Moreover the Aussies had been clearly outplayed since lunch on day two of the Headingley Test.

Early victories were proving a priceless crutch rather than the portent of greater deeds to come.

Australia looked like it was limping to the line.

But very little in this series has been straightforward.

It has been an Ashes duel to challenge assumptions, have those assumptions revalidated and then broken once more.

It has been a series in which many players have made telling imprints but none has dominated. With one day remaining in the fifth and final Test, no fewer than 12 players had either made a century or taken a five-fer, but no player had achieved both feats or done either more than once.

Stuart Broad, England’s leading wicket-taker and the man for whom this was supposed to have become a valedictory Test, is not among that dozen.

There are some reasonable candidates for player of the series but no absolutely obvious choice.

Stuart Broad is yet to take a five-fer this Ashes series. Picture: Getty Images

There have been plot twists at most corners, momentum has been fleeting, and just when you were jumping to a certain conclusion, something else happens to muddy the waters.

Just when England was careering away at Edgbaston, Joe Root danced down the wicket and opened the door for the Aussies.

Just when Australia appeared to be folding on day five of that match, its tail summoned untapped resolve.

Just when the gulf in spin class between the two teams was as wide as it had been for years, Nathan Lyon pinged his calf in the outfield at Lord’s.

Just when England looked like being thrashed at Lord’s and Headingley, Ben Stokes started whacking sixes.

Just when Australia’s batting started taming England’s attack, along came Mark Wood and Chris Woakes to disrupt the rhythm of the series.

Just when you thought Alex Carey was on his way to a standout series, one of the Ashes’ most controversial ever moments happened and his output plummeted.

Just when you’d probably forgotten about Mitch Marsh as a serious Test player, he came out and made a barnstorming counterattacking century.

Just when you believed Jonny Bairstow was a complete liability for England, he took a one-handed beauty and thrashed an unbeaten 99.

And just when Australia was on track to capitulate and hand England a series-levelling two-all draw inside four days, Khawaja and David Warner — yes, the same Warner widely written off as a spent force — issued a reminder of the placidness of the pitch at The Oval, before rain arrived to set the scene for another dramatic final day in a series that has not been short of them.