England's cricketers may have been given a wake-up call in their one-day series against New Zealand this week but the real business is still a month away when the First Test against Australia begins.
Forget the Champions Trophy and any other one-day or Twenty20 games, the success or failure of Alastair Cook and his team this summer will determined entirely by what happens in The Ashes, which start at Trent Bridge on July 10.
It’s hard to remember a time when Australia have apparently gone into a series in such disarray - having been whitewashed 4-0 on their tour of India this winter.
With five opening batsmen having been named among their 16-strong squad for the Ashes, legendary former spinner Shane Warne this week said of the Australian selectors: "It appears they don't know their best team."
The selectors would probably have a far better idea if Ricky Ponting was still available to wear the famous baggy green cap.
Questioning: Shane Warne wonders if the Australian selectors know their best team
Unfortunately for them, he has been pretty unequivocal that he plans to stay retired: “I will say now, no I won’t be playing Ashes cricket this summer – no matter how many injuries they have. I’m very happily retired from international cricket.”
At the age of 38, you can hardly blame Ponting for having taken himself out of the firing line after 168 Tests over 17 years for Australia.
Many of those years were spent as a target for criticism as he captained a declining side that gradually saw itself lose the services of all-time greats such as Warne, Steve Waugh, Glenn McGrath and Adam Gilchrist.
It's remarkable to think that he still managed to carry the weight of a nation's over-expectation and still average more than 50 himself over such a long period.
Australia's loss, of course, is Surrey's gain and if anyone had any doubts about whether Ponting would have the motivation to perform in county cricket, they were dispelled with his 192 runs on his Surrey debut against Derbyshire this week.
It was interesting to hear Ponting talk after that innings about playing alongside "an excellent bunch of guys and having some fun as well".
Let’s hope he remembers how much fun he is finding life at Surrey if, or more likely when, Australia come calling again later this summer.
Fantastic: Relive the final innings in Australia as England win the Ashes in 2009 - best moment, 1:06 - Flintoff magic.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here