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Momentum shift ... Australia have all the momentum leading into the fourth Test. Source: Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP
AT Trent Bridge and Lord's the English were baying for Australian blood. At Old Trafford, the few hearty Barmys still braving the rain chanted: "Call it off, call it off, call it off ..." Yes, after two deserved victories, England only needed a draw to retain the Ashes.
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But given the lopsided encounters of the past four years, the thought of England not wanting to take the field against Australia, for any reason, was heartening. Could the Test match in which England retained the Ashes be the one in which, finally, the momentum turned Australia's way?
In professional sport, there are no moral victories and no winning draws, although those swaggering Barmys might beg to differ. However, on a day when the English batsmen were content to put their feet up in the sheds, and instead squirmed for the 93 rain-free minutes, Australian cricket lifted its chin.
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Five days ago, it was taken for granted that England's retention of the Ashes at Old Trafford would leave Australia a bone fide contender for the title of worst team ever to tour England. Instead, Australia performed with enough vigour and skill to earn the home team's respect. Which, in modern cricket, is reflected by the stalling tactics, cynical DRS reviews and general acts of petulance required to maintain a foothold on the summit.
We had expected to see England perform cartwheels and wave stumps when they retained the Ashes. Instead, at 3-27 upon Kevin Pietersen's reluctant departure, the enduring image of the Test will be England players looking to the heavens with the hopeful gaze of the dedicated plane-spotter.
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Yes, Australia's performance at Old Trafford was based on the givens. Michael Clarke's batting; although the fact he scored his 187 at four, rather than five, was significant given the need to lead from the front.
Then there was the great heart of the Australian pace attack. Although, can anyone remember a time when Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris were snookered by rampant batsmen and put their cues in the rack?
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So, with two dead rubbers to play before preparations begin for next summer's return bout at home, what's new? David Warner's attitude ... maybe?
It has been a long couple of months, hasn't it? Warner's nightclub victim Joe Root reminded the batsman sent to cricketing Coventry when they crossed paths on the field.
But a couple of light-hearted, and self-deprecating, remarks by Warner, as well as some fluent strokes in the second innings, had the whiff of successful rehabilitation.
Most obviously, Warner must open the batting. Steve Smith is justifying his place at five or six. Clarke at four. Then, given Chris Rogers is rising 36, Shane Watson is struggling and Usman Khawaja is cricket's great enigma, the batting order remains a case of fill the blanks.
But if cricket is a team sport played individually, it is amazing how much easier it is for players to enter a team with a winning - or even drawing - mentality. In that regard, while Warner is often considered Australia's X-factor, perhaps that could be coach Darren Lehmann. Australia's competitive performance at Trent Bridge, followed by dramatic decline at Lord's, made you wonder if the appearance of the drinkin', smokin' Lehmann had been merely a placebo.
But a good performance here, and the fact Lehmann hasn't had a chance to put his technical and tactical stamp on the team, is encouraging. So too Lehmann's combative words after the match.
"We're not going to lose 5-0 are we?" he scowled. "Some of their players wanted us to lose 5-0, didn't they?"
Cold comfort, perhaps. But the chance to land a few more psychological blows before the return bout should keep the Australians interested.
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