By Jonathan Agnew BBC cricket correspondent, Sydney

After so much predictable, one-sided cricket in this Ashes series, it is extremely gratifying to forecast a potentially enthralling final contest in Sydney.

This possibility stems from a number of sources, not least because - for once - the injury curse has blighted Australia.

Already without Shane Warne, the Aussies will also be missing Glenn McGrath, Warne's partner in crime, whose injury ends a tremendous run of 54 consecutive Tests.

England sense their chance, but do not have everything running for them

This pair of top class bowlers is more responsible for Australia's domination of world cricket than anything else.

With more than 900 Test wickets between them they are the men that Steve Waugh turns to if he is in search either of attack or defence.

And although Andy Bichel is an honest hard-working seamer, and Stuart MacGill claimed five wickets in Melbourne, Australia will be considerably weaker for their absence.

The dual loss of Warne and McGrath will hit hard

England sense their chance, but do not have everything running for them.

Craig White, the top wicket-taker and leading all-rounder in the team, will be missing and this has created a real problem in England's lower order.

For a start, it means that there was no other alternative than to recall Alec Stewart.

This enables England to play five bowlers if they want - and I hope they do after they struggled in Australia's first innings in Melbourne - but they must not compromise batting depth.

This means that either Ian Blackwell, the hard-hitting, part-time spinner, or Paul Collingwood - who bowls some medium pace - will probably make his debut, depending on pitch conditions.

Not so long ago, two spinners would automatically have been lined up to play at Sydney.

Spinner Blackwell would bolster England's batting too

But the pitch has changed into one of pace and bounce and it is now more likely to encourage seam bowling than spin.

Although he continues to play down the question of his future, this will be an emotional match for Waugh, appearing on his home ground in his 156th Test, and very possibly his last.

He appears determined to soldier on, but there will be many in the crowd who want to give this outstanding servant of Australian cricket the send-off he deserves.

Waugh is a man who rarely, if ever, betrays his true emotions but this is bound to have an unsettling effect on his team mates.

It will, therefore, give England another area to exploit - if, for the first time on this trip, they are good enough to do so.