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As England prepare for the latest instalment of an Australian tour that is perhaps best characterised as the Pomnishambles, there are – whisper it – one or two reasons to be hopeful they might yet break that eight-match losing run in Friday's fourth one-day international in Perth.
England have lost their last nine matches in all formats at the Waca, with their last victory in Australia's mineral-boom capital as long ago as 1987. But if there is some good news, aside from Australia's growing list of rested players, it is the sense of as yet undampened spirits around England's one-day team, despite their series loss.
Ashley Giles has spoken encouragingly of the need for England's batting to incorporate a little more aggression, and as they practised in 38C heat at the University of Western Australia – alma mater to Bob Hawke – his batsmen could be seen rehearsing their ramps, hoicks and slog sweeps, scattering spectators and camera crews in the process.
In all three matches so far England have looked fatally constipated in the middle overs against Australia's spinners, with Glenn Maxwell, Michael Clarke and Xavier Doherty allowed to bowl 31 overs for 114 runs between them in Sydney and Brisbane. With this in mind, it was heartening to hear England's own spinner James Tredwell, who was left out of the first two games to protect him from Australia's twinkle-toed batsmen, talk of the need for greater intent.
"That's the Aussies. When they are going well they can batter you to a degree and if we're honest that's what they've done over the course of this winter, and it's finding a way to push back against that," Tredwell said. "I guess we've got nothing to lose now and hopefully we can go out there and show what we can do. There shouldn't be any fear. We've lost the series. If we can go and express ourselves and show the skills we have we can potentially put them under pressure.
"With the wickets in Australia you can hit through the line to the short, straight boundaries, so it can be difficult as a spinner in that regard. But I was disappointed when I didn't get a game as I'd done a bit of work in the period when I was at home and come up with plans to try to combat what they did."
If Tredwell was surprised to be told England are on the verge of equalling their all-time worst 10-match losing streak at the Waca – "we weren't aware of that but we are now" – it is a detail that has been gleefully bandied around the Australian media in the last week. Mitchell Johnson, who will be vice-captain on his home ground, has confirmed there will be no let-up in his own efforts to inflict further pain.
"We've been asked if we feel sorry for England," Johnson said. "And we've all said no. It's part of professional sport – you go through your ups and downs. Hopefully we can win this one-day series 5-0 as well and send them home without a victory against us. It brings a lot of joy to a lot of people's faces."
Indeed it does, although the prospect of further Australian joy will be dampened a little by the absence of Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, David Warner and Shane Watson, all of whom are rested. For England, Ben Stokes should be available after flying to New Zealand to attend the funeral of his uncle.
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