Together and drown their red-ball sorrows

producing reverse swing.Their decision might yet be vindicated if there is something of a surprise heatwave or, perhaps more likely, if he sees the tailenders on a fifth-day pitch.

However Starc struggled for consistent line and length and was conspicuously underused, bowling just seven overs for 41.

At a time when Joe Root and Rory Burns were struggling to find a way through early in their partnership, Starc failed to provide Paine with the sort of control he needed.

The left-armer beat the bat on occasion and the delivery that dropped Root with a fierce riser that split his protector will have given Starc some pleasure, if it gave the England captain none.

But he failed to produce the fireworks he managed with the bat on Thursday.

Paine is another who might wonder about changing fortunes with his captaincy under constant scrutiny, particularly after letting slip what looked an unassailable winning position in Leeds.

On Thursday he enjoyed the rub of the green – being dropped twice – to reach 58, his highest score of an underwhelming series with the bat.

But after a perfect start to remove nightwatchman Craig Overton, Paine persisted with a one-dimensional approach, missed a catch, burned a review – the 19th of 25 Australia have called wrong this series – and set poor fields to Nathan Lyon.

The only saving grace was three late wickets to set the match tumbling Australia’s way once again. Paine is another who might need a beer by the Oval. LIFE’S A MITCH: Starc failed to produce any fireworks with the ball