Australia have a lot to play for despite the dead series

“We have to make sure we get the balance of the side right,” England coach Duncan Fletcher told a news conference on Wednesday.

“Alec’s a proven world class all-rounder. He has batted well for us and kept wicket well for us as well.”

Australia won the first four Tests to retain the Ashes for a record eighth time in succession and give themselves a opportunity of completing their first 5-0 series clean sweep over England in 82 years.

However, their chances have been hampered by the loss of fast bowler Glenn McGrath and leg-spinner Shane Warne, forcing the selectors to recall paceman Andy Bichel.

“Obviously if you don’t have those two great bowlers it puts a hole in your bowling attack but it’s good in some ways, it gives other players opportunities,” Australia captain Waugh said.

“There’s plenty of guys who’ve been waiting a long time and from my point of view it’s going to be more challenging but probably more enjoyable.

“Now that we’re in place to win 5-0, obviously it’s something we’d like to achieve.

“It hasn’t been done since 1920-21, and those were the timeless Tests, so it would be a big achievement for this team to manage that.

Fletcher said the loss of Warne and McGrath had given England some hope of ending their run of heavy losses against Australia with a rare victory at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Beaten by an innings in two of the first three Tests, England produced their best performance of the series when they lost by five wickets in Melbourne after ripping through the Australian top order on the final day.

“It’s important that we go out and win this Test match. That’s what we’ve tried to do each Test,” Fletcher said.

“We haven’t looked at the stats, we’ve just gone out and wanted to beat Australia in each Test we played in and that’s the most important thing.” With the series decided long ago, much of the interest in the final Test centres around Waugh, who will equal Allan Border’s world record of 156 Test appearances.

Already one of the greats of the game, Waugh is on the threshold of a string of major milestones.