England had already lost the series but at least rediscovered their stomach for a fight in Sydney and the battered tourists will look to produce a similar gutsy display in the final Ashes Test against Australia on Friday.
Australia retained the urn with comprehensive victories in Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne and while England managed to halt the juggernaut in Sydney, it was not without a price.
Wicketkeeper Jos Buttler's tour was cut short by a finger injury, while all-rounder Ben Stokes (side) and middle order batsman Jonny Bairstow (finger) are doubtful for the pink-ball Test in Hobart after getting bruised in Sydney.
England are ready to play Stokes and stumper-batsman Bairstow purely as batsmen with Sam Billings likely to don the keeping gloves in his Test debut.
Captain Joe Root has insisted on putting "some pride back into the badge" but they are struggling to put together a playing XI that can replicate their steely display in Sydney.
"A guy who has had injuries, I'm sure, will not want to go into the game unless they're certain they can provide what's needed," England fast bowler Mark Wood told reporters on Thursday.
Wood was pleased with the green look of the pitch at the Bellerive Oval, which is hosting its first Ashes Test.
"We talked about our batting so much but actually we got to try and make sure we get 20 wickets to win the game.
"Hopefully, if it stays like that, we can use that assistance and get those 20 wickets."
While England grapple with plenty of problems, Australia's problem of plenty heightened after Usman Khawaja smashed back-to-back hundreds in Sydney and the batsman he substituted, Travis Head, recovered from Covid-19.
Australia have accommodated both, sacrificing opener Marcus Harris who will be replaced by Khawaja at the top of the batting order.
Australia have yet to decide their bowling attack with Jhye Richardson, having recovered from shin soreness, vying with Michael Neser for a spot while Scott Boland, who hurt a rib in Sydney, declared fit to play subject to a final assessment in the morning.
Originally scheduled in Perth, it will be the first Test in Tasmania since 2016 but local favourite Tim Paine is missing in action having taken an indefinite mental health break last year after relinquishing the captaincy following a "sexting" scandal.
It's up to you to go green
Nils El Accad, chief executive and owner of Organic Foods and Café, says going green is about “lifestyle and attitude” rather than a “money change”; people need to plan ahead to fill water bottles in advance and take their own bags to the supermarket, he says.
“People always want someone else to do the work; it doesn’t work like that,” he adds. “The first step: you have to consciously make that decision and change.”
When he gets a takeaway, says Mr El Accad, he takes his own glass jars instead of accepting disposable aluminium containers, paper napkins and plastic tubs, cutlery and bags from restaurants.
He also plants his own crops and herbs at home and at the Sheikh Zayed store, from basil and rosemary to beans, squashes and papayas. “If you’re going to water anything, better it be tomatoes and cucumbers, something edible, than grass,” he says.
“All this throwaway plastic - cups, bottles, forks - has to go first,” says Mr El Accad, who has banned all disposable straws, whether plastic or even paper, from the café chain.
One of the latest changes he has implemented at his stores is to offer refills of liquid laundry detergent, to save plastic. The two brands Organic Foods stocks, Organic Larder and Sonnett, are both “triple-certified - you could eat the product”.
The Organic Larder detergent will soon be delivered in 200-litre metal oil drums before being decanted into 20-litre containers in-store.
Customers can refill their bottles at least 30 times before they start to degrade, he says. Organic Larder costs Dh35.75 for one litre and Dh62 for 2.75 litres and refills will cost 15 to 20 per cent less, Mr El Accad says.
But while there are savings to be had, going green tends to come with upfront costs and extra work and planning. Are we ready to refill bottles rather than throw them away? “You have to change,” says Mr El Accad. “I can only make it available.”
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Tips on buying property during a pandemic
Islay Robinson, group chief executive of mortgage broker Enness Global, offers his advice on buying property in today's market.
While many have been quick to call a market collapse, this simply isn’t what we’re seeing on the ground. Many pockets of the global property market, including London and the UAE, continue to be compelling locations to invest in real estate.
While an air of uncertainty remains, the outlook is far better than anyone could have predicted. However, it is still important to consider the wider threat posed by Covid-19 when buying bricks and mortar.
Anything with outside space, gardens and private entrances is a must and these property features will see your investment keep its value should the pandemic drag on. In contrast, flats and particularly high-rise developments are falling in popularity and investors should avoid them at all costs.
Attractive investment property can be hard to find amid strong demand and heightened buyer activity. When you do find one, be prepared to move hard and fast to secure it. If you have your finances in order, this shouldn’t be an issue.
Lenders continue to lend and rates remain at an all-time low, so utilise this. There is no point in tying up cash when you can keep this liquidity to maximise other opportunities.
Keep your head and, as always when investing, take the long-term view. External factors such as coronavirus or Brexit will present challenges in the short-term, but the long-term outlook remains strong.
Finally, keep an eye on your currency. Whenever currency fluctuations favour foreign buyers, you can bet that demand will increase, as they act to secure what is essentially a discounted property.
