Finally, the Ashes can resume.
By the time the second Test in Brisbane begins on Thursday, it will be 12 days since England's crushing defeat by Australia in Perth.
Twelve days of English recrimination and introspection. Twelve days of being followed around golf courses and to the aquarium, of being called arrogant. Twelve days of poring over whether or not to play in an England Lions game in Canberra.
Enough time to fit in all the days of Christmas.
Plenty of Christmases will be shaped by the next five days (or maybe four, three or even two days). The difference between a cracker over the festive period or another Ashes procession with all the appeal of dry turkey.
