Not even that was enough, of course, to bring the Ashes home.
Australia duly won their fifth consecutive series against England, they've since made it six in a row and not many folk would bet against No 7 being completed before The Oval is reached at the end of August.
And yet, despite all the history, all the injuries and all Australia's brilliance, there is reason to believe Hussain's men can at least close the gap.
England were just two hours away from comfortably drawing the Second Test against Pakistan early last month - a result that would have given them a fifth straight series triumph. But neither the manner of that defeat in Manchester nor the subsequent hammerings during the one-day tournament should detract from the fact that real progress has been on the Test front under the joint leadership of Hussain and coach Duncan Fletcher.
"We know we are up against the best Australian team any of us have ever faced but we can't just surrender," says Hussain.
If England's performances against the West Indies at Lord's last summer and throughout the winter tours of Pakistan and Sri Lanka are anything to go by, there will be no sign of the white flag.
The selectors must first finalise a batting line-up, deciding where to slot in the recalled Mark Butcher and new boy Usman Afzaal. Then they have to work out whether a spinner will be required on an Edgbaston pitch that should start drier than usual.
But, as so often before, England will look to Mike Atherton at the top of the order and Gough, with the new ball, to provide inspiration.
England (from): Atherton, Trescothick, Butcher, Hussain (Capt), Afzaal, Stewart (Wkt), Ward, White, Cork, Giles, Caddick, Gough.
Australia: Hayden, Slater, Ponting, M Waugh, S Waugh (Capt), Martyn, Gilchrist (Wkt), Warne, Lee, Gillespie, McGrath.
Umpires: Sharp (Eng), Bucknor (WI). TV replays: Palmer. Referee: Talat Ali (Pak).
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