5 reasons we should still watch the 5th Ashes Test

In the world of professional sport, fortunes can change in a whisker. Ignominiously overlooked for selection in the ODI squad and with talks of age catching up with him, Alastair Cook was silently contemplating about his retirement at the start of the summer. His Australian counterpart, Michael Clarke, having won the World Cup and retired from the ODIs, believed he could play Test cricket for a few more years.Everything has changed radically within the space of a series. Clarke has announced his retirement while an emphatic Ashes win has taken away any thoughts of immediate retirement from Cook's mind.The series has been decided, the Ashes has been won and Australian cricket has been thrown into a state of significant crisis. The fifth Ashes Test is inconsequential as it cannot affect the final outcome of the series but it hardly promises to be uninteresting. An Ashes Test always turns out to be a high octane clash because of the tradition, rivalry and pride at stake. The heat of the clash never fails to instigate the kind of drama and emotion that is the delight of any quintessential cricket lover.Here are five reasons why the fifth Ashes Test still promises to be an exciting affair.

#1 Clarke\'s swansong

Michael Clarke leaves after being dismissed on Day 2 of the 4^th Ashes Test

Michael Clarke has announced his decision to retire from the international cricket arena after the last Ashes Test and fans around the world will be welling up with emotion at the prospect of bidding adieu to one of the true modern greats of the game. "You never want to walk away. My performances over the past 12 months have not been acceptable to me. I want to play the last Test at The Oval and give it one more crack. The time is right," Clarke said in an interview to cricket.com.au.

Former greats like Mathew Hayden and Andrew Symonds have lambasted Clarke's performances with former Australian coach John Buchanan rather controversially claiming that Clarke has "eroded the culture of the baggy green". Clarke being popular among the current players, such comments have not gone down well with the team and Mitchell Marsh has echoed their sentiments: "The comments have angered the team. It has been quite disrespectful to someone who has given our game and Australian cricket so much."

Clarke's numbers suggest that he should be remembered as a legend of the game and he will do everything in his power to score some runs and captain his side to a possible victory to end his illustrious career on a high.

#2 A last chance of redemption for the Aussies

Shane Watson has found his pad plumb in front of stumps with frightening frequency

Not many predicted that the Aussies will be outplayed so convincingly. But now that they have their backs against the wall, this might just be the last chance to resurrect some of their wounded pride. A 3-2 result with a convincing win in the last Test will make things look a lot better on paper.

Ricky Ponting has been scathing in his criticism of the current Aussie outfit and has predicted that as many as eight players from the current team might not play Test cricket again. Given the poor performance of the team, no player's place in the team, other than that of Smith and Warner, looks secure as of now.

The fifth Ashes Test will be intriguing as it might well play a decisive role in the career of many of the Australian players. This is a transitional phase in Australian cricket and we might not see many of the current crop of players in the baggie green ever again. There has been speculation over Shane Watson as well and with his Test career on the line, he will have to dish out a remarkable performance to impress everyone if he makes it to the starting eleven.

#3 Can Smith handle the expectations?

David Warner and Steve Smith field for Australia in a tour match against Northamptonshire

There is no doubting the fact that Steve Smith is one of the most prolific batsmen who is being considered by many to be the right man to take Australian cricket forward. But now that he has been named Australia's next Test captain, he will have to learn to shoulder more responsibilities.

Australia's national selector Rod Marsh said: "When Michael made his decision to retire last week it was a very straightforward decision for us to nominate Steve as his successor." But Marsh also conceded that Smith now has big shoes to fill given that he would be replacing Michael Clarke at the helm.

Smith has not quite lit up the Ashes series as had been predicted by many. He knows that the focus will now firmly be on him and he will be dying to get back into runs. It would be fascinating to see how Smith handles the added responsibility of being the next Test skipper and if he can return to his very best to vindicate the selectors' faith in him.

#4 The return of James Anderson

James Anderson leaves the field after taking 6 wickets on Day 1 of the 3^rd Ashes Test

As if the prospect of facing Stuart Broad and Steve Finn was not enough, the Aussie batsmen will be now dreading the return of James Anderson for the fifth Test. Anderson making it back to the team is something to look forward to and will add the extra fizz to the seam department which is already looking ominous.

Anderson ran riot on the first day at Edgbaston and helped skittle out the Australians within 37 overs in their first innings with a brilliant display of seam and swing bowling. His spell was crucial as it helped England bounce back from the humiliation at Lord's and the turn the tide decisively in their favour.

In retrospect, it was Anderson's spell that might well have decided the series in favour of England. As England arrived at Nottingham with the wind in their sails, Anderson might not have been around but his probing line and length had done enough to plant the doubts in the minds of the Australian batsmen. It was his ghost which was still haunting them. And now with Anderson returning in flesh, it will exciting to see if he can repeat his heroics from Edgbaston.

#5 Last chance for the Aussie quicks to impress

Mitchell Johnson blocks his ears while fielding near the boundary during the Trent Bridge Test

Before the Ashes series began, there were talks of the Australian bowlers bulldozing the opposition. When any squad comprises a bowling quartet of Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Petter Siddle and Josh Hazlewood, the expectation of witnessing quality fast bowling is not at all far-fetched.

But things have not gone according to plan for the Australians. While Anderson and Broad have run through the Australian line-up time and again during this series, the Australian bowlers have looked lacklustre and insipid.

The fifth Test will be the last chance for the Aussie quicks to come out all guns blazing and restore some of their lost pride. Mitchell Johnson has looked mostly flat throughout the series and at a time when speculations are rife that he has run his race, he will try to do his best to save his Test career. With nothing to lose, the Australians bowlers will undoubtedly come hard at the English batsmen for one last time in the series. As they say, never underestimate a wounded lion.