MITCHELL JOHNSON: Numbers may suggest otherwise but Ashes rivalry is still bigger than Australia vs India

Before we get to the fifth and final Test of the series, how good was the Boxing Day Test?

It truly had it all, and it was a grind, as Nathan Lyon spoke about. It was visible how much the win meant to the players.

You could feel that it was one of those great Test match finishes that are, as a player, very fulfilling. You feel you’ve earned it, and you fought hard for it. It’s a different feeling to winning easily.

Winning like the Aussies did takes it out of you physically and emotionally, and the same goes for India in defeat after fighting so hard for five days. That type of Test cricket is draining.

It was great viewing, and those who watched or listened rode every wicket. It didn’t matter who you were cheering for; the intensity was there, and in the end, that is what I enjoyed about Test cricket when playing and also now as a spectator.

Is Australia v India now bigger than the Ashes after the record crowd? I don’t think so because numbers don’t tell the fully story.

As a player, the Ashes is the Ashes and nothing beats that. Australia and India has become the most-watched Test series, and when you look at the population of India, that makes sense.

The rivalry has become genuinely big, though, and the series has had some fire in it from both sides. Maybe in years to come, the new generation may say this is the biggest series.

Heading to Sydney for the finale, it could potentially be the end for a couple of players on both sides. But that’s just a feeling – nothing is certain yet.

With Australia up 2-1 and the Border Gavaskar Trophy still up for grabs, the pressure will be on both sides to perform and it will be intriguing to see how they handle the challenges that lie ahead.

I’m sure Mitch Starc didn’t want to miss a home SCG Test match, but his record there over nine Tests isn’t the most favourable—24 wickets at an average of 44 isn’t ideal for the big quick.

Given that history and considering the niggle, along with this match being so close to the last Test, I like that Starc has been named. I’m sure he would have argued his case, and rightly so, so he gets the chance to finish the series strong and lift the trophy. Starc has been solid throughout this series and his rhythm has looked good for the most part.

As a bowler, it’s common to carry niggles and sore spots throughout a series and your career. It’s just part and parcel of being a fast bowler. However, you must also be honest in this situation; you don’t want to step into a game knowing you have a niggle that’s sore enough to break down during play potentially.

The other talking point is Mitch Marsh, who has had a not-so-good series. We often hear about what a great guy Marsh is, being funny and good for team morale, and I know first-hand what a great teammate he is.

However, while it does come into account, we shouldn’t pick players solely based on their character if they are not performing.

Aussie teams generally prefer not to make many unforced changes if possible during a series. That kind of consistency can create stability.

It would have been a tough call, being the last Test and especially when considering Marsh’s contribution to the team environment beyond just his stats as well as his key role in the white-ball teams.

But replacement Beau Webster will provide more bowling cover, as Marsh hasn’t been bowling many overs and his pace has been down, and the Tasmanian might provide the spark needed for Australia to finish the series strong.