An Ashes series that overpromised and underdelivered will be remembered for the dazzling performances and moments of magic rather than as a classic of the genre. For Travis Head’s star turn as a swashbuckling opener, Mitchell Starc’s new-ball destruction and Usman Khawaja’s emotional farewell on one side. For Joe Root’s belated century in a foreign land and Jacob Bethell’s breakout ton on the other.

While England rake over the coals of yet another away Ashes campaign wasted, the hosts’ review of their 4-1 series triumph might begin by ticking the box marked “somewhat satisfied”. Australia’s self-appraisal will be swift as the cricket caravan rolls on to a T20 World Cup next month. Not much further out on the horizon is Australia’s busiest Test schedule in history, beginning with a two-match series against Bangladesh in the Top End in August, then a return to South Africa for the first time since the ignominy of the “sandpapergate” tour.

Here is what Australia can take from the Ashes into an 18-month stretch that will include as many as 21 Tests and end with a tour of England.

Head’s top-order heroics open new doors

Much of the narrative heading into this summer’s Ashes was around so-called “Bazball” and how the home side might counteract England’s all-guns-blazing batting and express pace bowling attack. Less than two days into the series, Australia had found an emphatic response to both. It took a sliding doors moment for Head to open alongside Test debutant Jake Weatherald in Australia’s second innings in Perth. The fireworks and 69-ball century that followed blew away the tourists and snatched what before then seemed an unlikely first Test victory. 

Head’s move to the top of the order now looks like a masterstroke. He finished as the top scorer in the Ashes with 629 runs, two more tons and a stunning strike-rate of 87.36. Australia’s ongoing search for an assertive opener might have been solved with Head, even if he also happens be the side’s leading middle-order batter. Usman Khawaja spoke at his farewell about the mental battles that come with opening the batting, but Head could be the exception that proves the rule, as a player best served by stepping in at the top of the order as and when required.   

There were high hopes that Weatherald might instead fill the void as the opener who can set the tone of an innings. But amid a handful of sketchy starts and occasional signs of promise, one half-century from 10 innings and an average of 22.33 against England are hardly enough to secure a long-term future. The Darwin-born left-hander was exposed for flaws against full and short balls, and now has eight months to work on those weaknesses before a possible homecoming when Australia host Bangladesh. There are unlikely to be many, if any, opportunities beyond that without more runs on the board, especially with 23-year-old Campbell Kellaway among those knocking on the door. 

Green v Webster debate intensifies

An Ashes victory sealed in three Tests and inside 11 days of play allowed Australia to keep one eye on the future as much as chasing a series sweep. It perhaps allowed Cameron Green to hold onto his spot in the side, even before Australia enjoyed the luxury of playing a pair of all-rounders when Beau Webster was belatedly added for the Sydney finale. But the selection can can only be kicked so far down the road, as Green continues to flatter to deceive and Webster looks comfortable whenever given an opportunity at Test level.

Australia are still waiting for Green to arrive as a reliable Test player, let alone flourish as a genuine all-rounder. All the tools are there even as he continues to tease, but 171 runs for the series at an average 24.42, and four wickets at 70.75, fell well short even of middling expectations.

Webster, on the other hand, looks like a cricketer who has learned his craft on the domestic scene and is out to make the most of every opportunity at the top level. After Green gave up his wicket with a whimper at the SCG, Webster settled in for a stylish and unbeaten 71 that ensured Australia built up a match-defining first-innings lead. The 32-year-old’s seamers might lack the pace and penetration of Green’s, but also being able to bowl more-than handy off-spin could open up a different door for the Tasmanian.

Khawaja’s departure opens up middle order spot

In an ageing Australian side and amid diminishing personal returns, it was widely expected before the series began that the Ashes would be the scene for Khawaja’s farewell. An untimely back injury for the 39-year-old and 176 runs at 25.14 were enough to prove those predictions right. What few could claim to have foreseen was that Khawaja’s departure would open up a spot in the middle-order rather than for facing the new ball.

Marnus Labuschagne claimed back his spot in the Test side by piling on runs at domestic level, while another discard in Matt Renshaw might consider himself unlucky not to have done the same. The 29-year-old hit back-to-back centuries in his two most recent Sheffield Shield matches, and has carried much of that form into the Big Bash League season without being added to the Ashes squad. Renshaw’s claims to be next cab off the rank are helped by his versatility, with experience as an opener who can also score quickly when batting down the order, especially after Josh Inglis failed to make his mark in two Ashes Tests.

Questions remain over future of spin

Australia’s greatest fears came to pass as Pat Cummins fell short in his race to be fit in time for the Ashes opener at much the same time as Josh Hazlewood joined the Test captain on the sidelines. But as the famed bowling cartel was broken up, Starc hit new heights with a devastating 31 wickets at an average 19.93. Scott Boland unusually played all five Tests and claimed 20 wickets, while Michael Neser took 15 in three matches, Brendan Doggett earned a baggy green and Jhye Richardson returned to the scene. Hazlewood’s fragility looms as an ongoing concern but Australia’s pace attack suddenly has newfound strength in depth.

The spotlight instead turns on to who the next regular spin bowler might be with Nathan Lyon arguably on his last legs and the selectors reluctant to call on other tweakers. Australia’s faith in spin had already been tested with Lyon only called on to bowl two overs in Perth and then omitted for the pink-ball Test that followed. Todd Murphy came closest to claiming a spot in the XI after Lyon was injured while fielding in Adelaide, but even with seven Tests behind him was not trusted for the series finale on what proved to be a turning surface at the SCG. Matt Kuhnemann has proven he can have an impact on south Asian wickets but is yet to play a Test in Australia, while Corey Rocchiccioli has been the standout off-spinner in the past two Sheffield Shield seasons without earning an international debut. With Lyon now 38, the next big selection decision can only wait so much longer.