They failed to finish in the Premier League's top four for six consecutive years between 2017 and 2022 but have come second in each of the past three seasons.
Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne steered a nervy Australia to 17-1 at lunch and a 102-run lead Friday after Ben Stokes's gritty 83 gave England a slither of hope on day three of the third Ashes Test.