Australia's victory on Monday in front of a monster crowd in Melbourne summed up the magnitude of the task that awaits England in Australia next winter.
India had clawed their way to 112 for three heading into the final session of a gripping Test that attracted an Australian record attendance of 373,691 over the five days, surpassing the total that saw the 1936-37 Ashes match at the same venue.
But the tourists' batting imploded after Rishabh Pant was deceived by an occasional error from Travis Head and, to the roar of most of the nearly 75,000 spectators on the final night, Australia raced to a 184-run success that placed on the cusp of victory. qualify for another World Test Championship final.
Another win for Pat Cummins' team over India in Sydney next week would guarantee them the chance to defend their title against South Africa at Lord's in June.
Once again, it was his players who sealed the deal. This current setup contains four of the top 10 most prolific Australian Test players of all time, plus the reliable Scott Boland, currently in the lineup due to an injury to Josh Hazlewood, as first reserve.
England know all about the dangers of facing Boland at the MCG. Three years ago, he finished with six for seven on debut, a performance that enabled Australia to end the Ashes before lunch on the third day of the third Test.
Australia scored a famous victory over India in the Boxing Day Test on Monday.
They remain a major force and England will have their work cut out for them in next year's Ashes.
But Australia have an aging bowling attack, including Mitchell Starc (pictured), who has been battling niggling injuries of late.
Here, he finished with overall figures of six for 96, having featured in a vital stand of 61 for the last wicket in the third innings, pushing his captain Cummins (six for 117 plus 90 runs with the bat) for the man of the – Party prize in the process. Pitcher Nathan Lyon finished the inning, just as he did the first.
There is no doubt that Australia have the attack in their own condition to dismantle any opponent, with the amount of pace and bounce they generate meaning that even an England team at their Bazballian best could fail.
But it could be said that their strength is their weakness, given their profiles. When the Ashes series begins in less than 11 months, the average age of their fab five will be 35, a time in life when injuries are harder to prevent.
In fact, the injuries have already begun to take their toll. Hazlewood started the series against India with a side strain and has since been sidelined with a calf problem.
Mitchell Starc is battling a rib problem ahead of the final match of the series that India must win to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
If Starc is left out, it would go some way to addressing a pretty important long-term question: namely, does Australia have bench strength?
Because, while England have spent this calendar year working on theirs, retiring Jimmy Anderson shortly after his former new-ball partner Stuart Broad said goodbye to the game and blooding Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse, the world Test champions have freely swiveled towards an Ashes. The task was seen as the last position for many of them.
But what if the crunchy bodies mean your main men don't get there? It's not easy to answer. Because? Because Australia simply hasn't tested its reserves. It is a staggering statistic that among their active frontline players, only Lyon, Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood have taken more Test wickets than Shoaib Bashir's 49 for England.
England have found two promising bowlers in Gus Atkinson (left) and Brydon Carse (right) who can shine in Australia.
Australia are also struggling with their batting line-up, with all-rounder Mitchell Marsh (pictured) struggling for runs, and England could take advantage of this.
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Jhye Richardson, in line to replace Starc next week, has played just four first-class matches since the most recent of his three Test appearances two years ago.
There are problems elsewhere too. Yes, teenager Sam Konstas marked half a century since his debut, but his selection came only after Nathan McSweeney failed his audition as David Warner's replacement. Mitch Marsh also faces the challenge of the all-rounder role, with Beau Webster waiting in the wings, after 73 races in four Tests.
Cameron Green, a sure starter in the best Australian team, will be out for six months after spinal surgery.
So while thousands of people cheering 'Straya' enjoyed their moment on Monday, this is not the baggy green machine of yesteryear. At best, they justify their number one ranking, but if cracks continue to develop, they may not be so easy to repair.