FRONT UP OR SHIP OUT, LADS Coach Thorpe warns: Everyone, especially the younger players, must accept their failings and correct them if they want a future with England

ENGLAND’S also-rans have been told to face up to their failings on this Ashes tour if they want to stay in the team and improve.

With The Ashes long gone and one final match to come in Hobart, the Aussies put the squeeze on England in Sydney before setting a fanciful target of 388 to win the fourth Test.

But whatever the outcome at the SCG, the focus has already switched to what the players can take out of the tour – with several changes to be made next week.

No Ashes tour Down

Under is complete without an injury crisis, and subject to medical assessment it appears unlikely that Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler or Jonny Bairstow will be available to take part in the fifth Test due to their various ailments.

It will clear the way for Sam Billings (right) to make his Test debut behind the stumps, even though Ollie Pope did a superb job filling in as a sub wicketkeeper yesterday, claiming a record-equalling four catches in the role.

Pope can expect to earn a recall as a batter in Tasmania while Dan Lawrence will be itching to play some part in the series for the first time. But for all the players who have been on this draining tour, the lessons dished out by Australia have been severe.

And assistant coach Graham Thorpe wants to make sure they do not go to waste.

Batting legend Thorpe said: “This is the harsh end of the game.

“I do believe that some of these young players in this team will have very good and long Test careers.

“But they have to be able to front up and accept some of the failings, whether they be either technical or mental for periods on this tour.

“I know that they’re trying to correct it, and I’m hoping that some of these younger guys will be far better players down the line with their awareness and their smartness. Decisionmaking is absolutely key.

“Everyone goes on about technique, but you’ve got to make good decisions constantly when you’re out in the middle and that requires a good temperament.”

There was no better example of a good temperament than that of Usman Khawaja who, at 35, made the absolute most of his chance in the side with a second century in the match.

Khawaja is a class act with the bat, but has had to battle hard for his chances and even now accepts twin tons might not be enough to keep him in the Aussie side.

“I’m not a selector, but I’ve spoken with them and I understand the process,” said Khawaja. “And having been on both sides of it, I’m in favour of it.

“If you work so hard to get your chance, when it comes along you should get a fair crack at it with a decent amount of games, so I may miss out next time.”

His 101 not out was certainly appreciated in the Aussie dressing room for keeping a tired England in the field, even though the heroic Mark Wood kept charging in regardless.

There can be no more wholehearted a cricketer than Wood, who has turned up the heat on the Aussie batsmen.

Even though he has dismissed dangerman Marnus Labuschagne three times in a row for a combined 17 runs, Wood deserves far more luck than he has so far enjoyed.