There were not many reasons then for thinking that England might have a chance of regaining the Ashes, which proves that there is more to the demand for Test cricket than patriotism or, as an Australian might describe it, blind optimism.
Equally, there is much more at stake in this game than whether Australia win the series 3-1, 4-1 or 3-2. English cricket - the professional game, the business and the national pastime cannot afford the further sickening blow to its self-esteem which would be implicit in a fourth successive win for Australia. Nor, as everyone knows, can the captain.
Oddly enough, Mike Atherton is not the only leader considering resignation. Before the start of the series Mark Taylor said that whichever captain finished on the losing side would probably lose his job. In the event Atherton will resign his commission only if he so chooses, whereas the winner, Taylor, is seriously contemplating quitting while he is ahead.
Taylor was the man under the laser beam of media speculation when he made his prophecy. A curious twist is possible now: that Taylor will retire while deservedly wreathed in laurels, and that Atherton might yet accept the pleadings of the chairman of selectors that he should continue as captain in the West Indies. For that to happen, however, the probability is that not only will England have to win in the sort of rousing manner that they did in Atherton's second Test in charge at the Oval four years ago, but that the captain himself will have to overturn his recent run of low scores for both his county and his country.
It is already certain that he will not be in charge for the one-day tournament in Sharjah in December, which in turn probably rules out any distant dreams of leading England to success in the World Cup in 1999. He seemed to be speaking in the past when he said that captaining England had been ``enjoyable and an immense challenge''.
Repeating that it would not be until after this match had been won, lost or drawn that he assessed the situation, Atherton added: ``You have to ask yourself whether you're still the best man for the job. Do you still have the drive, the energy and the enthusiasm?''
Atherton is not yet 30, so it is some indication of the weight that has been on his back that such questions should almost seem to have been inviting negative answers. An England win to finish the series as they started it, and an overdue 12th Test hundred, would alone persuade him, perhaps, to battle on. He would be greatly helped by having equally overdue luck with the toss. If Taylor calls right today it would be six out of six.
Strong character, dignified man and original and decisive thinker though Taylor has proved himself to be, he has had the priceless advantage of matchwinning bowlers. Shane Warne has been the prime asset all along, except when he was away for his operation: without him Australia had a short tour of India last year and failed to win a match.
Taylor may yet wish to rise to the challenge of a fuller tour of India next year, having already had his own hearty vote of thanks and confidence from the Australian chairman of selectors, Trevor Hohns. Since his 15th Test hundred in the first Test defeat at Edgbaston Taylor has rallied his side in the manner of a genuinely great captain, but it was only in the last match at Trent Bridge that he began to bat with the same almost impenetrable defence of old and his personal form, too, may have a bearing on his decision. He said yesterday that he would spend two or three weeks at home before he decided whether to continue after his 33rd Test in charge.
By their recovery from a bad start to the tour, for which no praise can be too high, Australia have ended all dreams of the longed-for English revival. They have had a recent habit of losing matches after the series is decided, but winning their fifth series against England in succession, an unprecedented achievement, will not necessarily make them throttle back, especially as they have two new faces in the side to bring additional keenness.
Mark Waugh, who missed the nets yesterday with flu, is, according to The Management, certain to play but Australia have lost Paul Reiffel and Jason Gillespie. England know how dangerous Michael Kasprowicz will be with the new ball and they can only have a healthy respect for the all-round ability of Shaun Young, who was awarded his first Test cap yesterday at the age of 27, but it is Warne and Glenn McGrath they fear most.
McGrath's 29 wickets so far put him in possible touching distance of Terry Alderman's 42 wickets in 1981 but the usual true-looking Oval pitch, a fast outfield and the fact that England are planning to play seven batsmen, with Adam Hollioake at seven, will make it hard for him. Hollioake's brother, Ben, will be in the dressing-room only as a spectator this time and Peter Martin is expected to take the place of Dean Headley, whose bruised heel has not improved. Phil Tufnell already knows that he is the chosen spinner but Atherton's main bowling hope rests with the Oval expert, Devon Malcolm.
For the first time three batsmen whose careers have run closely together from boyhood, Nasser Hussain, Graham Thorpe and the recalled Middlesex captain, Mark Ramprakash, are playing together in an England Test side. With Mark Butcher and Alec Stewart batting at two and three on their home ground (as are Hollioake and Thorpe), England really should be capable of making the sort of huge score which alone will give their bowlers a chance.
England (from): *M A Atherton, M A Butcher, -A J Stewart, N Hussain, G P Thorpe, M R Ramprakash, A J Hollioake, A R Caddick, P J Martin, P C R Tufnell, D E Malcolm, D W Headley, B C Hollioake.
Australia: *M A Taylor, M T G Elliott, G S Blewett, M E Waugh, S R Waugh, R T Ponting, -I A Healy, S Young, S K Warne, M S Kasprowicz, G D McGrath.
Umpires: P Willey, L Barker (West Indies). Third umpire: K E Palmer. Match referee: C W Smith (West Indies).