Just one Test down and as the late Richie Benaud once put it: “it’s all happening at the MCG” - except we are in Adelaide and don’t reach the MCG for another four weeks - but already we have had an alleged headbutt, a 10-wicket defeat and the small matter of a pink-ball Test coming up.

And then there is the on-going Ben Stokes soap opera. Whoever said this Ashes was not going to be a spectacle?

Let’s deal with the Stokes issue first. The story of the moment. 

His release to play cricket in New Zealand signalled a green light from England and suggested to me that they are comfortable with him being back on the field.

It makes perfect sense for him to play some cricket for Canterbury now and it seems that England believed Ben had served his punishment already and was ready to come back and help us win the Ashes.

But the fact the police referred the case to the Crown Prosecution Service only served to muddy the waters further. To me it should be quite simple. If it is deemed acceptable for Stokes to be playing for Canterbury in New Zealand, it should also be acceptable for him to take his place in the England team. 

England need Stokes because he is one of their best players and the Ashes needs Stokes from a spectator’s point of view because he is one of the world’s most exciting cricketers. 

And Australia need Stokes to play too because surely they want to win the Ashes by beating a full-strength England team, not one with their best player missing?

The one thing that is certain is he won’t be playing in Adelaide so let’s turn our focus to that – and primarily the other soap opera in the England camp that is Jonny Bairstow and ‘headbutt-gate’.

I do hope Jonny, a good friend of mine, is able to put these latest Aussie shenanigans behind him. The Aussies will continue to wind him up and Jonny, like most redheads, can get pretty serious and fired up. But channelled the right way ‘headbutt-gate’ could be a great thing to have happened if it puts Jonny on that front foot with a point to prove. 

Knowing Jonny I think the incident was probably nothing more than a social, yet slightly awkward, macho love tap with Cameron Bancroft. The Aussie players have laughed about it and so should we.

Let’s be honest, it is an exciting time when you are away from home, in Australia playing an Ashes series, so who can blame Jonny for letting off some steam? Bancroft looks like he might be an important player in this series and unfortunately it seems like Jonny has knocked the sense right back into him rather than out of him.

On the pitch, though, I want to see Bairstow bat higher up the order.

He has been one of England’s outstanding cricketers over the past year or so and, if England are to push on, Jonny needs to have an impact and we know he scores quickly, especially on these wickets. I think he would also put more pressure on Nathan Lyon. So I would not have him batting with the tail. I would have him at 5 with Dawid Malan at 6.

Moeen Ali is a fantastic player himself but I think him coming in at 8 and playing fluently is dangerous for Australia. I also think Chris Woakes should be given the chance to come in and bat at 7.

He has a very good technique and I am sure will score runs. I don’t think it matters what colour cricket ball is used this week as the Adelaide Oval is as good a batting track as you will find. Whether you are an in-form batsman or short of runs you will be looking forward to the opportunity of getting stuck in.

All eyes understandably will be on Alastair Cook. Getting yourself in is key for any batsmen but for Cook right now those first 20 to 30 balls are going to be incredibly keenly watched in this country and over there. 

He may have almost 12,000 Test runs behind him but he knows as well as the Aussies that that won’t mean a thing when the Test starts. 

Australia will hone in on his off-stump, full of a length. Alastair will have spent hours since Brisbane working on getting himself back into the ball and making sure his hands don’t get too far ahead of his body. Positive movements are key in Australia. He last scored a double hundred when he last faced the pink ball and he will want to use those good memories to get into this series.

I wouldn’t bet against him at Adelaide. It can be tough viewing the ball during the twilight period but once the pink ball’s initial movement calms down the afternoon can be a great time to make hay!

There is a lot to keep an eye on in Adelaide but England’s focus must be on doing the hard work to build a big total. The bad balls will be there because Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc are aggressive. And they must be positive against Lyon - but by that I mean pro-active. Not reckless.

If they can do all of the above then there is every chance this series is still alive and kicking - and with it still “all happening” - by the time we get to the MCG!

***Nick Compton is Ladbrokes' Ashes brand ambassador. Australia start as 4/6 favourites to win the second Test with England 5/2 outsiders and the draw at 9/2.***