If allowed to run away with its own puffed-up self importance, Bazball is likely to be a case of hubris that refuses to acknowledge its own mistakes. It is possible of course that England are smart enough to pull a double-bluff move and con Australia into thinking that Lord’s is going to be Bazball on steroids but in the absence of such guile, the arrogance of “going even harder” will likely play right into Australian hands.

It is rare indeed when Australia are the team showing circumspection, on and off the field. As the Brits are fond of saying, it’s a rum business when Aussies are turning the other cheek and playing the victim card but in this case, England are doing all the trash-talking from a position of weakness, one-nil down and needing to do more than just draw the series to regain the Ashes.