Ben Stokes & Co have a chance of ending the Australia tour on a high and beginning the new year with a win. For that to happen, it is important that the players in their team come of age and live up to expectations

England’s Jacob Bethell (right) goes for a catch as teammates look on during a practice session in Sydney on Saturday. PICS/GETTY IMAGES

Usman Khawaja, who announced that the last Test match in Sydney is going to be his final appearance in Australian colours, also spoke from his heart about the greater battle that players, especially those who are from the sub-continent, have to face in countries which call themselves developed but have plenty to develop in their minds. What sort of reception he gets when he walks onto the ground will be known by the time you read this and give a better idea if his comments have hit the right or the wrong nerve. Here’s hoping he gets a ton in each innings like he did in the last Ashes Test there and goes out on such a high that those who hounded him will be looking for binoculars to see how high he is above them.

Ben Stokes also gets full marks for saying at the........

© Midday