There is, perhaps, no more depressing place to be in the cricket world than Edgbaston on a day such as yesterday.

Relentless rain sent the players indoors and the Super Soppers, all five of them, outside and into overdrive, although they fought a losing battle against the elements. The forecast for the third npower Test match is unremittingly grim, an outlook that favours no one.

Certainly not England, who — although poor weather from here on in would give them a better chance of holding on to their 1-0 lead — sense an opportunity to hammer home the advantage gained at Lord’s. Despite Kevin Pietersen’s absence, Andrew Strauss was in bullish, chipper mood at his press conference yesterday, happy to answer a query about the “aura” of the Australia team by suggesting that, like the sunshine, it had disappeared.

This will come as no news to those who have watched Australia throughout a tour that has yet to bring any significant success. But it was not so much what Strauss said, more that he felt comfortable enough saying it, something that surely reflects the buoyant mood in the England dressing room.

Strauss was not being deliberately provocative, he was simply answering a straight question in a straightforward manner, but he did not circle the question, as previous captains might have been forced to do. “It feels like we are playing against any other team,” he said.

Just like any other team is exactly what Australia have not been over the past two decades and the England captain’s comments are sure to touch a nerve. Ricky Ponting finds himself in the unaccustomed position of having to come from behind and there is an unusual amount of speculation about the Australia team. “It means we must be doing something right,” Strauss said. Quite so.

England have one decision to make this morning now that Ian Bell has been confirmed — in what could well be a defining month for him — at No 4 and Monty Panesar has been given his marching orders because of the rain. Stephen Harmison, still to confirm or deny retirement rumours, is likely to miss out to allow Graham Onions the chance to present the seam at a surface that must have some residual moisture.

There is more uncertainty surrounding Australia, which is why England want as much play as possible over the next five days. Mitchell Johnson is struggling badly but may still retain the faith of the selectors, while Brett Lee is not fit enough to warrant selection.

Things will become much clearer over the next five days for Australia: if Lee becomes available and Johnson either bowls himself out of contention for good or indeed finds some form, they can look forward to finishing the summer a good deal stronger than they started it.

Australia’s default position after a defeat is usually to show faith and Ponting has hinted strongly throughout the week that Johnson will play. There must be a temptation, though, to go for Stuart Clark, who acts as something of a lucky charm for Australia — they have won 17 of the 22 Tests he has played. Clark for Peter Siddle would also offer Ponting some control with the new ball and allow Johnson to step back from the pressures of leading the attack.

What neither captain doubted yesterday was the importance of the game. In 2005, Edgbaston was deliberately placed as a key Test match, Old Trafford following hard on its heels. It is no less important this time around, something Strauss was quick to acknowledge when he called it the “hardest” Test of the summer. By that he means strategically the most important, with Headingley looming tomorrow week and not much chance for a beaten side to recover.

The England players enjoy Edgbaston more than any other ground because of the fervent, patriotic support. Ponting has been taken back by the nature of some of the reaction, media and public, so far this summer and should steel himself for a particularly rough ride over the next five days. He needs only 25 runs, though, to pass Allan Border’s record for the number of runs by an Australian in Test cricket and will hope, if not for veneration, then for something approaching appreciation should he get there.

He has never given the impression that he is a cricketer who gives more than a passing nod to personal milestones and he knows that defeat here would virtually consign him to becoming only the second Australia captain to lose two Ashes series in England. To prevent that, Ponting needs time that the weather here may not allow, and a better performance from his bowlers.

With all the talk of auras found and lost, there is no doubt that the one player on either side with an aura right now is Andrew Flintoff. Strauss confirmed that he will be fit to play, barring last-minute problems. He was also asked how far he should protect the all-rounder. Rightly, he said that a player who makes himself available must expect his share of the workload. In any case, watching his stunning performance at Lord’s, how bad can it be?