To have any chance of retaining the Ashes, England must copy the Australian example and ensure their lower order make runs for the first time in the series.
Such contributions have been a speciality of this team since Andy Flower took over as coach in 2009. Matt Prior, the pugnacious wicketkeeper batsman, would lead the way at No7, and Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann would follow suit.
How different things seem now. England’s lower order have been unable to handle the threat of Mitchell Johnson and have subsided where they used to dig their team out of a hole. The rescuers in this series have always worn green helmets.
In the First Test at the Gabba, it was Brad Haddin and Johnson who took Australia from 132 for six towards a first-innings total that ultimately proved far too much for England. Haddin worked with captain Michael Clarke to do the same in Adelaide, and here in Perth, Haddin was at it again, putting on 124 for the sixth wicket with Steve Smith after the Aussies had been in strife at 143 for five.
Remember that total: 143 for five. Their final first-innings total was 385. At the close on day two, England were 180 for four, with arguably their best batsman, Ian Bell, at the crease with rookie Ben Stokes. To follow them, the quartet who have so often been important with the bat: Prior, Bresnan, Broad and Swann.
Yes, the pitch has quickened and yes, Australia have bowled better than England did in the first innings. But surely, surely England’s lower order must be able to chip in at some stage. Prior rediscovered some form in Adelaide with 69 not out. A similar innings here would be so valuable.
If Bell and Stokes could somehow add another 70 to 100 runs, England’s lower order could make their mark, preferably with Bell still at the wicket to guide them. Given what has happened before in this series, this might seem a forlorn hope, as well as an unrealistic.
Yet trust England must, and hope that, with the finishing line approaching, Australia show a little uncertainty with the ball. It is all the tourists can cling to at the moment.
