If England are going to win back the Ashes, history suggests they should get the job done before the final Test. Australia have won six in a row at Sydney, and England haven't won there since 1978-79. They won twice then - but it was against a Packer-ravaged second-string. Perth offers similarly small hope: the only time England have ever won there was in that 1978-79 series.

Avoiding defeat at Brisbane would be a start: no side has won an Ashes series in Australia after losing the first Test for 48 years.

Ground	Australia	England
Brisbane	WDWWD	LWLLD
Adelaide	DWWWW	LDDWL
Perth	WWWWD	DDLLL
Melbourne	DLWWW	WWLLW
Sydney	WWWWW	LDDDL

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