England and Australia fans have been through it all in the last three test matches of this fabulous Ashes series of 2005. It has been a roller-coaster of emotions. In fact some may say it has been the most unhealthy test series ever, no doubt there has been a few high blood pressures about in the last 4 weeks. And I dare say it isn't just England and Australia fans that this series has captured the imagination of. It really has been an epic. But hold on folks, there is still one more potential emotional roller-coaster ride to go, and this is the biggest of all of them.

England, since being comprehensively blown away like leaves in a hurricane at Lords, have found themselves 2/1 up 3 matches later, and go into this crucial 5th test just requiring a draw to regain the Ashes. Australia have to win to retain the Ashes, again.

Glenn McGrath is likely to be fit whilst England sweat on the fitness of key seamer Simon Jones. Jones will be spending 90 minutes a day in the run up to this match in an oxygen chamber in a London Hospital in a bid to speed up the recovery of his ankle injury. The oxygen chamber will supply more oxygen to the injured tissue in Jones' ankle which will bring about the speed up in recovery. Jones will breath 100% oxygen whilst in the chamber compared to the 21% normal atmosphere. My calculations suggest that should speed up the recovery considerably.

If Jones doesn't manage to get fit then that would leave the England selectors with a big problem to ponder over. The next two seamers in line for England are Chris Tremlett and James Anderson. The problem is, neither are bowling particularly well at the moment, James Anderson in particular who looks more and more like a county trundler as matches go by. James Anderson would be the more like for like replacement but the quality of his bowling at the moment make that option very unattractive indeed. Chris Tremlett is a taller more Harmison-esque bowler, but is pretty expensive and the selectors will be unsure about giving a debut to a young bowler in such a big match. Tremlett is the likely replacement, but it would be far from ideal.

Basically, England could really do with Jones fit. There is no escaping that. Especially considering the amount of problems he has caused Australian batsmen in this series so far with his conventional and reverse swing. He has taken 18 wickets at 21's with a strike rate of 35. He would be a huge miss. His absence would also break up what has been a very dangerous bowling unit, the best in world cricket at present. On the other hand there has been talk of calling up an extra batsman to replace Jones, winning the toss and batting until Sunday, that is very unlikely to happen though.

The Australian batsmen are under huge pressure to perform in this test match, and they only have two innings left to do so. England's bowlers have been all over them, and despite claims that they will sort it out, they haven't. England's relentless bowling unit have just been a bit too good for them. The Oval is a flat pitch, so the opportunity is there for these Australian batsmen. Can they counter England's attack though? This is a flat deck for England as well and their last three 1st innings has been 400+. Can the Australian bowlers counter that as well like they did at Lords?

So there is plenty of pressure for Australia to contend with. It always is anyway when you have to win a test match.

England on the other hand have their own pressure as well. This is the best opportunity they have had to win back the Ashes for over a decade and the whole nation is gripped as a result of their success. A defeat could be disastrous not only for the England team having dominated Australia for three matches on the bounce, but for England cricket on a whole as well. Cricket has the nation's attention, it is popular. Just like rugby was after and during the World Cup, the rugby team couldn't maintain that success though and the popularity of that sport has drifted away back to more or less where it was. England have got to maintain their success, and they are capable of doing that. But can they? The subcontinent coming up afterwards will probably be equally as tough as this Ashes series. An Ashes win would be a great platform to really launch from. Will England grasp it?

Only having to draw a test match can be a dangerous position.

Unless it rains, which would delight the England fans, fasten your seatbelts folks, get ready for that rise in blood pressure, make sure your finger nails are long enough to chew again because it is going to be another emotional roller-coaster ride. Mark my words.

Ones To Watch

• Ian Bell - Has had a patchy series with the bat in the number 4 role. Hasn't looked very comfortable or filled many people with a huge deal of confidence from an English point of view. Has been reluctant to show any attacking intent early in his innings, and got out to a half volley trying to defend it at Trent Bridge. Made two encouraging 50's at Old Trafford but hasn't done a lot else. The jury is out.
• Geraint Jones - Has been batting well but keeping poorly. England shouldn't underestimate the value of his 85 at Trent Bridge because it helped build a large total and apply pressure to Australia. But there is no escaping how average his keeping has been. He has conceded 50 byes and over 50 runs having dropped batsman and missed stumpings. Again, the jury is out.
• Matthew Hayden - Has had a real stinker of a last 18 months. Over 30 innings without a test century and has only made one competitive fifty all tour in England (that being against Bangladesh chasing 130 to win). The pressure is on him to perform big time, his place in the Australian team is under severe threat. A poor test here could see him axed. Has struggled a lot with the swinging ball, just like he did in England back in 2001 as well.
• Adam Gilchrist - Expected to destroy England all series, Gilchrist has averaged in the low 20's and hasn't even registered a fifty. He is always dangerous though and his last game at the Oval yielded a fabulous run a ball hundred against England in the Natwest Challenge. Flintoff has troubled him a lot in this series and the battle between the two of them has been fascinating.

Robs Prediction: England win. England have the momentum, and the wood over the Australian players. This determined, talented, young and proud England team won't let this slip.

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- Rob