Brollies down, covers coming off. We might have a toss soon. “Festive greetings, Jonathan,” and to you Andrew Benton. “As Elton John once sang, ‘It’s a sad, sad situation, and it’s getting more and more absurd’. It would be a fair miracle if England were to regain the urn, the change in attitude and aptitude needed to win three in a row is surely beyond them. If miracles are going to happen, there are many far more worthy causes to which they should be applied. Fielding mistakes and giving away wickets should have been ironed out in the summer, and it will be interesting to see if the pressure applied by management over the past few days has any result. At least some learning could then be legitimately be said to be happening.” All relevant points. However, I think the most salient is simple one: that this cohort of Australians are better at cricket than their English rivals. This is magnified in Australian conditions. Exacerbated further by injuries and lack of preparation to the tourists. I feel like much of the “Root must to do this” analysis, and heated discussions about application or concentration are mostly performative and largely empty. What really needs resolving is the problem of why this England side is so poorly equipped for this challenge; repeatedly. Until then, the incidental gripes around fielding and captaincy will be little more than piddling into the wind. Pass the time while the drizzle hangs around with Simon Burton’s look at Boxing Day Tests of yore. The Boxing Day Test has become, in the words of Mark Butcher, “a major part of cricketing folklore”, but it was a surprisingly recent addition to the calendar. England and Australia first met on that date in 1950, when the second Test resumed on 26 December after two days off. The following year, West Indies played Test cricket on Christmas Day itself, which one tourist declared “sacrilegious” and was not much more popular with the home side. “I have never played on Christmas Day before in my life and don’t like having to do so now,” an unnamed Australian said. Here is the cut strip that won’t be used for a while yet. Confirmation the toss has been delayed. Good luck to Dave. By midway through the afternoon session, being in the outer at the G is not always the most relaxing place for an Englishman. (I speak from personal experience.) As for the toss. Yes, you’d reckon it’s a bowl-first, but a wet outfield may force some second-guessing. I’m not sure it matters much for Cummins, but Root really has to attack, and with such a weak batting order around him, making early inroads with the new ball may be his only route to victory. There’s been plenty of talk about the pitch here at the MCG, but - Melbourne being Melbourne - the start of play is under threat from drizzle. Just ten minutes out from the toss, the pitch is under cover as some rain drifts across the arena. It’s been midsummer beautiful in Victoria for a week or so, but conditions today are cool, there’s a blanket of cloud swaddling the CBD, and some of it is heavy enough to reach ground level. Some sad news to begin with following the announcement of the death of former England allrounder, captain, coach, selector, and self-appointed supremo, Ray Illingworth. Preamble I hope you’re all well-fed, well-rested, and ready for one of the landmark days on the sporting calendar. As Cliff Richard sang, it’s a time for giving (your wicket away reverse-sweeping to point during a blockathon) a time for getting (dropped), a time for forgiving (Jos Buttler) and a time for forgetting (Joe Root winning the toss in Brisbane). Now let’s rejoice in the good that we see. That good includes the selection of Scott Boland, only the second Indigenous Australian man to be awarded a baggy green, as well as the prospect of 70,000 or so fans inside the MCG, providing one of sport’s most incredible audiences. There’s England’s final chance to right some wrongs in the battle to regain the Ashes. Pat Cummins is back. So is Jonny Bairstow. And Zak Crawley. So put the wrapping paper in the recycling, lay out your selection box on the table, and settle in for one of the best days (or nights) of sport of the year. I’ll be back with more shortly, but if you would like to join in, you can reach me by email or Twitter (@JPHowcroft).