In 1981 it was Ian Botham, in 2005 Andrew Flintoff and this series is shaping as the one that will define Ben Stokes's Ashes legacy. This has been a mighty English summer for the all-rounder, who has starred in arguably the greatest one-day international and now perhaps the greatest Test of all time. Stokes is coming off hundreds in back-to-back Tests though Australia also have reason for confidence against him given the chances they have created. Ben Stokes has been the man of the series so far in the Ashes. Credit:PA While Headingley 2019 will forever be remembered for his heroics with the bat, his lion-hearted spell in the second innings kept his team in the game. "He's a world-class player, he puts bowlers under pressure and makes them do things and captains do things that you wouldn't normally do," Australia captain Tim Paine said. "That's a huge weapon England have got and one we've got to try to contain in the last two Test matches." 3. The return of the batting ace If England believe they can win from any position after being dismissed for 67, equally Australia can draw heart from how close they came to winning without one of the best batsmen in the world.

Loading England had next to zero idea how to get Steve Smith out until Jofra Archer shook him up with the short ball. Smith's concussion made the headlines but it was the hit to his arm which rattled him first. The former Australia captain was quick to point out Archer has not dismissed him to which the speedster retorted with, "Well, I can’t get him out if he wasn't there." Smith gave the impression he would welcome Archer bowling short at him as that would take other modes of dismissal, such as bowled and caught behind, out of play. Archer will no doubt oblige with the short stuff but he also has the smarts to get him out with skill instead of brute force. For the first time since Smith was a young pup in 2011, England can be confident they have a plan to dismiss him. Australia will hope Smith, though, has another hundred by the time it works. Steve Smith returns after missing the third Test due to concussion. Credit:AP 4. The England top four

After three lean Tests, England have admitted they made a mistake with Jason Roy at the top of the order, moving him down to No.4. Roy is a destructive opener in the limited overs formats but has been found out by the extra lateral movement of the red ball. The Australians are extremely confident they have Roy's measure, which is not surprising given he has made only 57 runs in six innings. Roy has a tendency to come hard at the ball when it's full and wide, making him a prime candidate to be caught behind. Jason Roy has failed to transfer his dominance in the limited-overs formats into the Test arena. Credit:AP The positive for England is it gives them a middle order full of stroke-players in Roy, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler, who can move the game in a hurry. Rory Burns and Joe Denly also have weaknesses that have been exploited. Burns is susceptible to the short ball, so too Denly, whose love of the cover drive often gets him into bother as well. "We've got some good plans there and hopefully keep on executing them," paceman Josh Hazlewood said. 5. The spinners The prospect of a dry wicket that will take turn means the slow bowlers are set for a heavier workload here than at Headingley, where they did little in the first innings. The Old Trafford pitch has already been likened to Edgbaston, where Lyon came into his own on days four and five to spin Australia to victory. But how has the man they call the GOAT recovered from his torrid finish at Headingley? The Lyon of a few years back may have struggled but he is a different man now, much more confident in his own skin. That said, keep an eye on him in the field to see if he continues to spar with the incoming batsman given there is now a very easy comeback line to deliver.