\n<\/p>\n
England were incredibly disappointing as they lost the first three Tests in just 11 days to surrender the series at the earliest opportunity.<\/p>\n
But the tourists won the fourth Test in Melbourne to earn their first victory in this country for almost 15 years.<\/p>\n
All of Stokes, head coach Brendon McCullum and director of cricket Rob Key have said they want to stay in their jobs despite this Ashes defeat.<\/p>\n
While Stokes seems likely to remain, the positions of McCullum and Key would come in for more scrutiny if England lose at the SCG.<\/p>\n
Conversely, former captain Michael Vaughan has previously said England’s victory in Sydney at the end of a 4-1 Ashes defeat in 2002-03 was the beginning of their road to an epic series win on home soil in 2005.<\/p>\n
“The Ashes for us, unfortunately, hasn’t gone the way we wanted it to but we’ve got one more game in a big game in a big series,” said Stokes.<\/p>\n
England’s next Test is not until the beginning of a three-match series at home to New Zealand in June.<\/p>\n
Including the Test in Sydney, England have 14 matches before the next Ashes series at home in the summer of 2027.<\/p>\n
However, Stokes is not viewing this match as a springboard for regaining the urn next year.<\/p>\n
“That’s so far away from where we are right now,” said the 34-year-old. “We’ve got a big Test to play here and a big gap until our next series. All that is time for reflection. Right now isn’t the time do that.”<\/p>\n
As has become a Sydney tradition, the fifth Test will have a pink theme for the Jane McGrath Foundation, a charity created in memory of the late wife of legendary Australia pace bowler Glenn McGrath.<\/p>\n
It will mark the final Test in the career of Australia batter Usman Khawaja, who announced on Friday this will be his last international match.<\/p>\n
Stand-in Australia captain Steve Smith, three years Khawaja’s junior at the age of 36, has confirmed he will not be following him into retirement yet.<\/p>\n
This is Australia’s last Test until a home series against Bangladesh in August, which marks the beginning of a busy schedule leading towards the 2027 Ashes.<\/p>\n
Australia have not won a series in England since 2001 and Smith is yet to indicate if he intends to make that trip.<\/p>\n
“I’m obviously older and wiser,” he said. “Maybe I’ll wake up one day and be like ‘that’s enough’. Who knows? Right now I’m not going anywhere.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n