England desperately need early wickets to revive their fortunes on day three of the final Test against Australia.Seeking to avoid becoming only the second England team to endure a 5-0 Ashes whitewash, they resume 103 ahead but with six Australia batsmen to oust.
At the crease are Andrew Symonds, who defied England with 156 in Melbourne, and Mike Hussey, who has hit a 103 plus four fifties in six innings so far.
The match starts half an hour earlier at 2300 GMT to make up for time lost.
England were determined to gain the upper hand on the second day, but lost Paul Collingwood in the sixth over.
Veteran Australian seamer Glenn McGrath is only too aware of the importance of a strong start in the opening exchanges on day three.
"The first session will be quite important," the 36-year-old said.
"If we can get through that without losing any wickets, or not too many and get some runs on the board then I'd say we're in front.
"It would be nice to get a first-innings lead or quite a sizeable one and then see how we go."
McGrath added cryptically: "If we go out there and have a good session, it's a real good session and if we have a bad session it's not too bad."
English hopes will again turn to Steve Harmison, who took only eight wickets at 65 runs apiece in the opening four Tests, but claimed 2-34 on day two in Sydney.
"I struggled a bit for rhythm," the Durham paceman revealed. "But I have got a lot more confidence coming from the fact I didn't feel great but still put the ball in a good area."
Harmison also allayed fears that skipper Andrew Flintoff, who bowled only six overs, had suffered further problems with his ankle.
"I think his ankle is fine," he said. "It was just that Jimmy (Anderson) and I were bowling well, and the rain break came at a good time for us."
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