Scorecard-5th Ashes test '06

Australia beat England by 10 wickets
England won the toss and decided to bat
England 1st Innings
291 all out (103.4 overs)
Australia 1st Innings
393 all out (96.3 overs)
England 2nd Innings
147 all out (58.0 overs)
Australia 2nd Innings
46 for 0 (10.5 overs)








Umpires: Aleem Dar, B F Bowden
Australia: J L Langer, M L Hayden, R T Ponting, M E K Hussey, M J Clarke, A Symonds, A C Gilchrist, S K Warne, B Lee, S R Clark, G D McGrath
England: A J Strauss, A N Cook, I R Bell, K P Pietersen, P D Collingwood, A Flintoff, C M W Read, S I Mahmood, S J Harmison, J M Anderson, M S Panesar

Aussies Complete Ashes Whitewash

England were pulverised on the fourth day of the Sydney Test as the Australia juggernaut swept to a 10-wicket win.
Scorecard

The resultant 5-0 whitewash was the first since 1920-21 and was a fitting send-off for Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer in their final Test.

McGrath took two wickets as England were all out for 147 after resuming on 114-5, leaving Australia to score just 46 for victory.

And Langer and Matthew Hayden knocked off the runs with ease in 10.5 overs.


At the start of play, the Barmy Army were at least hoping to salute a few lusty blows from Kevin Pietersen, but he fell to the third ball of the morning without adding to his overnight score of 29.

McGrath produced the kind of delivery that has epitomised his 13-year Test career - just back of a length outside off stump, seaming away - and Pietersen edged to Adam Gilchrist.

England had still not registered a run in the day when Chris Read called Monty Panesar through for a run.

His partner responded a fraction slowly, and Andrew Symonds' bullet-like throw from extra cover knocked out middle stump with Panesar short of his ground.
Finally, there were a couple of boundaries. An edge through a gap in the slip cordons got Sajid Mahmood off the mark and Read middled a cover-drive off Brett Lee.

Time for an England rally? Not a bit of it. As if to scoff at such petulance, Lee had Read caught at second slip by Ricky Ponting and Mahmood was bowled off his pads by McGrath.

Steve Harmison lofted McGrath for four over mid-on as he and James Anderson kept Australia in the outfield a little longer.

Warne almost had Harmison lbw - an appeal went to the third umpire who ruled in the benefit of the batsman.

But the honour of the last wicket went to another of Australia's retirees - McGrath, who ended with six in the match.

Anderson tried a speculative on-drive but gave an easy catch to Michael Hussey at mid-on.
It was the last wicket of the 2006-07 Ashes.

As McGrath and Warne began their farewells, they left the stage to the third great Australian exiting the international stage.

Justin Langer, accompanied by fellow opener and best mate Matthew Hayden, walked out with the Aussies chasing a tiny target.
The only question was whether England could remove either man before the home team could begin to uncork the celebratory liquor.

In a microcosm of the entire series, the tourists' bowlers were unable to trouble Langer and Hayden at all.

A massive six from Hayden off Mahmood left Australia one run from the winning post and the next ball was glided through the covers.

Langer and Hayden removed their helmets and embraced warmly.

Next, the two players shook hands with the opponents they had conquered - Langer had a special word with old Middlesex team-mate Andrew Strauss.

The other Aussies came onto the field and the celebrations could really begin.

Warne's three children and McGrath's two posed for a photograph with two of Australia's most famous dads and the interviews and presentations started.

For the record, Stuart Clark was named man of the match but narrowly lost out on the man of the series accolade, with his captain Ricky Ponting accepting that prize.

England sledging spurs Warne on

Shane Warne says sledging from England fielders helped fire him up to make a rapid 71 and put Australia in control of the fifth Test in Sydney.

They look to be closing in on an Ashes whitewash as England crumbled to 114-5, a lead of just 12 runs, at the close.

"A few of them decided to have a bit of a say," said Warne, who is playing in his last Test match.

"That's fair enough. No drama. It just made me concentrate a bit more. Some days it works some days it doesn't."

Paul Collingwood had led the England sledging when umpire Aleem Dar failed to give Warne out caught behind off Monty Panesar early in his innings.

But it backfired as a fired-up Warne put Australia firmly in command, taking a 102-run lead.

Warne admitted he had begun to dream of making a century in his final Test match before being stumped by Chris Read off Panesar.
"In the context of the game to get a 100-odd lead was pretty crucial and I was thinking, 'surely not, I can't do this' (get a century). I thought, 'keep swinging and see how we go'."

Warne expects Australia to finish England off on Friday with only Kevin Pietersen remaining among the recognised batsmen.

"I would be pretty disappointed if we can't win this game tomorrow," he said.

"Once they are four or five down we always feel we can knock over their tail."

The 37-year-old struggled to cope with back trouble during the day's play and believes he has definitely made the right decision to quit international cricket.

"I thought R Mortis (rigor mortis) was coming in to bowl. I was stiff in the back, I couldn't move, so I was happy to get one (a wicket) in the end."

And as he prepared for what could be his final day in Test cricket he added:

"I suppose I will be a little bit sad but I am excited for what the future holds.

"I can spend more time with my children and my family and I can celebrate my career. The game's been kind to me and hopefully I have entertained and put a smile on a few people's faces.

"I'll be more happy than sad, that's for sure, because the body is telling me it is time to go."

Australia On course for Whitewash!

England ended day three of the final Ashes Test under severe pressure at 114-5 in their second innings, leading a buoyant Australia by a mere 12 runs.
Scorecard
Shane Warne marked his last Test with a cavalier innings of 71 off 65 balls, the top score in Australia's 393.

Only Kevin Pietersen (29no) withstood the Australian bowlers as the hosts closed in on the first Ashes whitewash since England's 5-0 defeat in 1920-21.

Brett Lee and Stuart Clark struck twice and Warne had Andrew Flintoff stumped.

Interview: England's James Anderson
Highlights: Fifth Test - Day Three

England began the day needing to rock Australia's middle order with the second new ball still a distant prospect.

They got the ideal start when Michael Hussey was caught behind off James Anderson in the second over of the day to leave the Aussies 190-5, still 101 runs behind.

But Australia's last five wickets produced more runs than their first five as the balance of power shifted towards the hosts either side of lunch.

Adam Gilchrist (62) and Andrew Symonds (48) began the onslaught by adding 70 for the sixth wicket.
And when Monty Panesar beat Symonds' loose drive to bowl him middle-and-off, Warne hit his first ball for four and his second for six.

He survived a massive appeal for caught-behind off Panesar on 10, and could also have been run out twice early in his innings.

But England's fielding was not at its sharpest on Thursday - Gilchrist also survived two tough chances in the 20s - and Australia seized the initiative ruthlessly.

Gilchrist had hit 102 not out from 59 balls in Perth, and with some booming drives and a symphony of stunning cut shots he threatened something similar here.

His stand with Warne was worth 58 in barely seven overs when Read went up for a catch off Anderson and umpire Billy Bowden erroneously gave the decision to England.

But Warne was unbeaten on 40 at lunch and had the appetite for plenty more runs.

Flintoff removed Lee cheaply but a killer stand of 68 for the ninth wicket then developed as Warne and Clark rode their luck and England's defensive fields yielded some easy runs.

Warne, whose highest Test score is 99, must have had half a mind on a maiden Test century.

But Sajid Mahmood finally forced Clark to give Kevin Pietersen an easy catch in the covers and Warne - who had used his feet so well against Panesar - was last man out, stumped.

He had faced just 65 balls for his runs, hitting nine fours and two sixes.

It was advantage Australia, and Lee tore into England's top order with the new ball.

Alastair Cook got nowhere near middling an attempted pull, and was out having faced just eight balls.

And soon afterwards Strauss had to take cricket's equivalent of a standing count after copping another Lee torpedo flush on the part of the helmet protecting his temple.

He bravely continued and, helped by Ian Bell, ensured England reached tea without having lost any futher wickets.

But the Aussies dealt out four hammer blows in the final session.

Strauss, clearly unsettled by the earlier bouncer, was lbw to a ball from Clark that straightened before Bell played a loose drive to a wide delivery to be caught behind off Lee.

Paul Collingwood made his sixth low score in succession as he drove a Clark leg-cutter to gully and when Flintoff dragged his back toe over the popping crease, Gilchrist pounced to stump the England skipper.

Strauss sent to hospital for scan

England opener Andrew Strauss went to hospital for a scan after being clattered on the helmet by a Brett Lee bouncer on day three in Sydney.

Strauss was felled when he ducked into a short ball in the third over of England's second innings.

The ball struck him on the protective plastic covering his temple.

He was able to continue his innings after treatment from England physio Kirk Russell and was eventually out for 29, lbw to seam bowler Stuart Clark.

The match is In Play.with england at 113/5.

McGrath hopeful of final Test win

Australia seamer Glenn McGrath believes the final Test is finely balanced as he seeks to end his career with a victory.

The home side polished off England for 291 then added 188-4 by stumps, and 36-year-old McGrath said: "It's reasonably evenly poised.

"We feel we can turn things round from almost any situation and win a Test. The guys are pretty positive.

"We thought if we could get a couple of wickets early they have quite a long tail and we could do some damage."

Interview: Australia's Glenn McGrath
Highlights: Fifth Test - Day Two

England's spirits lifted when Ricky Ponting was run out by James Anderson and McGrath admitted: "They have got a bit of an opportunity."

Recent additions Mike Hussey and Andrew Symonds then consolidated the Australians, however, with an unbroken partnership of 33, taking their team within 103 of England's total.

"We'll see how things go in the morning," said McGrath, who took 3-67 to lift his Test wicket tally to 560.

"If we can put on a good partnership first off then we can take it away from them."

England Vs Australia-Day 3 preview

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."

Australia Gain edge in the final Ashes test!

England produced an improved bowling performance but Australia ended day two of the final Ashes Test on 188-4 in reply to the tourists' 291 all out.

Steve Harmison took 2-34 and England had the bonus of Ricky Ponting's wicket for 45 - the Aussie captain was in fine touch before running himself out.

Earlier, England subsided quickly from an overnight 234-4 but captain Andrew Flintoff (89) emerged with credit.

Disappointingly, England's last five men produced only four runs.

Interview: England bowler Steve Harmison

Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath and Stuart Clark all finished with three wickets.

The second new ball was taken as soon as play began on Wednesday and McGrath and Lee looked dangerous immediately.

Paul Collingwood was dropped by Justin Langer in the slips in Lee's first over, but in any case added just two to his overnight 25 before edging a McGrath lifter to wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist.

Chris Read never settled and soon gave Gilchrist another catch off Lee, who followed up by removing Sajid Mahmood for a golden duck.

Mahmood, batting at least two places too high at number eight, fended away amateurishly for Matthew Hayden to take the easiest catch imaginable at gully.
Though he struggled to put bat to ball, Harmison did better than his fellow tail-enders, lasting 24 balls to allow Flintoff to go from 61 to 82.

The England skipper moved to within sight of his sixth Test century - and first since the summer of 2005.

But wickets were falling and he had to take more and more risks, so it was no huge surprise when he nicked a big drive behind to be the ninth man out.

And the final wicket of the innings was Shane Warne's 1,000th in international cricket, Monty Panesar missing an attempted sweep to be adjudged lbw.

Langer survived the one over bowled by England before lunch and emerged after the interval to play a range of shots with real panache.

But having got to 26 quickly he contrived to glove a ball from James Anderson down the leg-side, Read taking the catch.

Ponting and Hayden were given plenty of balls to attack - which the Australian bowlers had not done when England batted.

And the tourists had to wait until the score had got to 100 before the next wicket came - Hayden lazily steering a wide ball from Harmison to Collingwood in the slips.

When Ponting began to blossom after tea, hitting two terrific pull shots off Anderson, things looked ominous for England.

But a daft decision to try to steal a single to mid-on ended Ponting's innings, Anderson hitting middle stump with his sharp throw.

Michael Clarke then edged a good ball from Harmison to Read, whereupon the heavens opened with Australia 155-4.

When conditions abated, Andrew Symonds and Michael Hussey had to weather a difficult 12 overs before stumps.

England desperately wanted another wicket, but it was not to be, and the amazingly consistent Hussey (37 not out) was beginning to look threatening.

Symonds took two massive risks in the final over of the day, bowled by Panesar, but lived to fight another day on 22.

scorecard-Ashes '06 5th test day 2

02-01-2007 at Sydney, Day 2 of 5
Rained
England won the toss and decided to bat
England 1st Innings
291 all out (103.4 overs)
Australia 1st Innings
167 for 4 (48.5 overs)




Umpires: Aleem Dar, B F Bowden
Australia: J L Langer, M L Hayden, R T Ponting, M E K Hussey, M J Clarke, A Symonds, A C Gilchrist, S K Warne, B Lee, S R Clark, G D McGrath
England: A J Strauss, A N Cook, I R Bell, K P Pietersen, P D Collingwood, A Flintoff, C M W Read, S I Mahmood, S J Harmison, J M Anderson, M S Panesar

Australia v England - 5th Test

FIFTH TEST, SYDNEY, DAY TWO: Evening session: England 291 all out v Australia 155-4

Steve Harmison took wickets either side of tea and Ricky Ponting ran himself out before rain brought the players off on day two of the final Ashes Test.
Scorecard
Australia were 155-4 in reply to England's 291 and the match looked to be evenly poised in Sydney.

Harmison removed Matthew Hayden with a poor delivery that the left-hander lazily steered to second slip.

But the ball that removed Michael Clarke had some venom in it, the right-hander edging it to Chris Read.

PLAY SUSPENDED FOR RAIN
Just as England canter around in joyous celebration, the rain begins to fall. It's nothing too heavy, but the umpires point towards the pavillion before Andrew Symonds can come thundering down the steps. Harmison now has 2-27 off 10.1 overs. I gave him a slating earlier on, but he's finally started to click.

Honours even, says Aussie coach

Australia coach John Buchanan felt it was a case of honours even after England ended the first day of the final Ashes Test on 234-4 in Sydney.

"We would have liked one or two more wickets but England played pretty resolutely. It's about even-stevens, I think," said Buchanan.

"We were all scratching our heads at the play and misses but that happens on a wicket that offers a little bit.

"Bell obviously hung around and did a pretty good job for their side."

Highlights: Fifth Test - Day One
Interview: Australia coach John Buchanan

Australia, who went into the match with a 4-0 lead in the series and chasing only the second whitewash in Ashes history, have a number of big-name players retiring from Test cricket after the match.

Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer are all hanging up their whites and it is also Buchanan's last Test as coach, but he said Australia were remaining focused on the task in hand.
"I think they're all holding together pretty well. Each does it in their own way," said Buchanan.

"Alfie's (Langer) showing his feelings a little more I suppose, Glenn's just a bit of a larrikin and Warney's Warney.

"This is his stage and he generally handles those things pretty well.

"There's a reasonable amount of emotion in the dressing room but we're trying to channel that in the right way.

"We've still got a job to do, that's the main thing.

"They're playing for their country, it's a Test match and that's what they're really trying to put their mind to."

Sydney has a reputation as a spinners' wicket and Buchanan has no doubt that it will turn as the match progresses.

"It's a dry wicket, slowish, with little bit of movement for the new ball, but I think obviously the turn will come into the game as it goes along," he said.

"It really depends on the weather too of course. It wasn't too flash this morning and I think the forecast is still not that good, but we'll get plenty of cricket in to get a result.

"There's no doubt it will turn. We've got a quality spinner and it will be interesting to see how (Monty) Panesar performs through the course of the game here."

Flintoff seeks big england total!

Andrew Flintoff and Paul Collingwood hold the key for England as they look to reach a big first innings total in the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney.

They ended day one on 234-4, with Flintoff 42 not out and Collingwood 25.

"To see off that last hour of play and the way they did it was really important for us.

"But tomorrow is a huge battle for us to get through the first session and the second new ball," team-mate Ian Bell told BBC Sport.

England cannot afford to waste the opportunity as they trail 4-0 in the series and Australia are eager to achieve what would be only the second whitewash in Ashes history as they prepare to say goodbye to Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Justin Langer.

Bell said it was difficult to know what a par total was on a pitch offering help to the seam bowlers, but England would be looking for at least 350.

"We certainly don't want to lose 5-0 but for us, as a young England side, we've got to put this behind us now.

"But it's important from this Test match and every day we play here in Australia that we're building for the next Ashes series," said Bell.

"This is the toughest place you can play cricket. We've learnt certain things - and learnt the hard way - but I've enjoyed every minute out here and I'm looking forward to coming back here again in the future."

From Australia's point of view, they will look to get rid of Flintoff on day two before he has time to settle at the crease. After a disappointing series with only one half century in the first four games, Flintoff looked more like his old self in hitting a six and five fours.

Australia coach John Buchanan said: "We beat the bat quite a bit and when we had them two down early on there might have been some ghosts floating around in the dressing room - but I think they responded well.

"234-4 off 80 overs puts them in a reasonable position, providing they can capitalise on it. We're looking for a couple of early wickets so we can really restrict that total."

Buchanan praised seam bowler Stuart Clark who again looked impressive in sending down 19 overs for figures of 1-54.

"Since he came into the Test side his performances have been simply outstanding.

"Basically it's the old cliché, he gets the ball in the right areas a lot of times and if you can do that you make batsman struggle no matter how good they are. That's what he has done and that's what he continues to do," he said.

Bell disappointed to miss century

England batsman Ian Bell admitted to frustration about missing out again on a hundred after the opening day of the fifth Test in Sydney.

Bell was dismissed for 71, the fourth time he had passed fifty in the series without reaching three figures.

"I thought I'd got through that back in England last summer when things were going really well," he said.

"It's something I need to properly look at, to make sure when I get in [I go on] because the top players do that."

Highlights: Fifth Test - Day One
Interview: England batsman Ian Bell

Bell hit three centuries in England's home series against Pakistan last summer but fell short at the SCG when Glenn McGrath, playing his final Test, ended his 153-ball innings by finding a small gap between bat and pad to bowl him.

"It's something I'm going to look back on and be pretty disappointed really. Something I really wanted to do over here was go on and score hundreds. That's what you've got to do if you want to be a world-class player, and especially batting at number three."
The Warwickshire batsman paid tribute to Australia's bowlers for making scoring difficult during his third-wicket stand of 108 with Kevin Pietersen.

"There was a period when me and Kev [Pietersen] were out there and they made it really hard work for us and it was just a matter of getting through that.

"McGrath and [Stuart] Clark bowled exceptionally well and as a unit, Australia generally put the ball in really good areas.

"[Facing] McGrath is all about patience, he just tests out your technique all the time. I knew what he was trying to do to me and he got me in the end, I guess," he said.

After Pietersen's elevation to number four above Paul Collingwood, Bell insisted it made no difference to him who followed him in the batting order.

"I've tried to stay out of all the talk about that and concentrate on what I've got to do.

"As long as Kev's happy where he wants to bat and it fits in with the team, I think it's the right thing to do."

FIFTH TEST, SYDNEY, DAY ONE (stumps)

England 234-4 v Australia
Led by Ian Bell's fluent 71, England ended day one of the final Ashes Test in Sydney on an encouraging 234-4.
Scorecard:

Bell put on 108 with Kevin Pietersen (41) before Andrew Flintoff and Paul Collingwood added an unbeaten 67.

They came together when veteran seamer Glenn McGrath, playing his final Test match, took two wickets in the space of five balls to put the Aussies on top.

The other decorated Australian bowler making his last Test appearance, Shane Warne, bowled 19 wicketless overs.

Interview: England batsman Ian Bell

He did not extract huge spin and was not at his most consistent either, but his threat will increase during the course of the match.

Spectators arriving at the ground early in the morning were hit by a monsoon-like deluge and it was soon clear that despite the improving weather play would not start on time.

Finally, the toss took place at 11.10am local time (0010 GMT) and an 80-minute first session ensued.

England, who replaced Matthew Hoggard (side strain) with James Anderson, batted first after Flintoff called correctly.
And Andrew Strauss immediately looked anxious to score quickly, but had difficulty locating the middle of his bat.

His first boundary was an edge off Brett Lee that flew only marginally wide of the slip cordon and his second also came off the edge of the bat.

He was dropped on 21 by Justin Langer fielding at third slip to McGrath.

But it was no real surprise when he was out adding just eight runs to that score - attempting a cut shot at a ball from Lee that hurried onto him.

Adam Gilchrist had few problems taking the catch and Lee's first ball at Bell was a short-pitched snorter that the right-hander did well to defend safely.

England reached lunch on 58-1 but failed to add to that score before losing Alastair Cook for 20.

He contrived to get an inside edge to a Stuart Clark delivery, giving Gilchrist another catch.

Surprisingly, Bell was the dominant partner in the important partnership with Pietersen that occupied almost the whole of the extended middle session.

He was particularly strong through the on-side initially, before cutting both McGrath and Warne for boundaries after passing 50.

Pietersen hit just one boundary in a 104-ball innings that reaped 41 runs and he was generally content to be patient.
But after tea, he decided to take a more aggressive approach against McGrath.

Repeated attempts to come down the wicket to the hugely experienced seamer came to nought, however, and the method of attack eventually brought about his downfall.

McGrath simply bowled shorter and shorter until Pietersen obliged by top-edging an attempted pull to mid-wicket.

An encouraging score of 166-2 became a worrying one of 167-3 when in McGrath's following over he bowled a peach of a delivery that seamed through Bell's defences to bowl him off the inside edge.

Flintoff, 42 not out, batted in relaxed manner from the start of his innings, and two off-side boundaries off Lee followed by a six over wide mid-on off Clark got him going.

Collingwood, unbeaten on 25, played Warne well, and cashed in on two full tosses, despatching them for boundaries.

And the pair were beginning to look settled ahead of the second new ball before bad light brought about an early conclusion, with 80 overs bowled in the day.

Aussie trio to bow out in final Ashes Test

Australian cricket is set for one of its most emotional occasions tomorrow with the farewell of Test greats Glenn McGrath, Justin Langer and Shane Warne in the fifth Ashes Test against England at the SCG.

The trio will be looking to bow out on top as Australia, already 4-0 up in the series, chase a rare whitewash.

Langer, the courageous opening batsman, today joined bowling legends Warne and McGrath in announcing the Test in Sydney would be his last for his country.

The trio's departure will conjure memories of when Greg Chappell, Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh quit Test cricket together after the fifth Test against Pakistan in Sydney 23 years ago, leaving Australia with a sizeable hole to fill.

McGrath and Warne, with 1,263 Test wickets between them and the scourge of English batsmen for over a decade, have been match-winners in a golden era of Australian cricket, while the plucky Langer forms part of Australia's most prolific opening partnership with Matthew Hayden.

The Ashes series ended as a contest in the third Test in Perth, but Ricky Ponting's team has the chance to inflict the ignominy of a 5-0 series clean sweep, last achieved by Warwick Armstrong's 1920-21 Australians at home.

"As hard and emotional as it is to not wear the baggy green cap again I know in my heart it's the right thing to do," Langer told a press conference this morning.

"They say to go out on your own terms and when you're on top of your game, and I feel as if I'm doing that."

The Australians, driven by the loss of the urn in England in 2005 after 16 years' ownership, have put an ever-widening gap between them and Andrew Flintoff's demoralised tourists.

England sunk to a series nadir with an innings and 99-run capitulation inside three days after winning the toss in last week's fourth Melbourne Test.

"We don't want to leave this country having been turned over 5-0. We want to win a game of cricket," said England skipper Andrew Flintoff.

If there is a glimmer for England it is Australia's susceptibility in "dead-rubber" Tests.

South Africa won the third Durban Test in March 2002 after losing the first two of the series and England won in Sydney on the last Ashes tour here in January 2003 after going down in the first four Tests.

But the McGrath-Langer-Warne farewell and the quest for a whitewash will focus Australian concentration, vows Ponting, who senses "an opportunity now to create something very special for this team in Sydney."

"We've done everything in our power to make that be the way. England wouldn't be happy with their (Melbourne) performance," he said.

"When we are playing as well as we are and we're on a bit of a run then I'm sure all those little doubts turn into big doubts. We've seen that through this game."

Australia shunned the opportunity to call up spin specialist Stuart MacGill to bowl in "leggie" tandem with Warne, preferring to keep the balance of the team that flattened England in Melbourne.

But the tourists, with few options to strengthen their lineup, may turn to Middlesex off-spinner Jamie Dalrymple to team up with Monty Panesar on the spin-friendly Sydney pitch.

Flintoff has spoken of putting on a belated show for the army of English supporters who have trekked out to Australia in the vain hope of seeing their boys retain the Ashes after last year's euphoric series.

But four heavy defeats, both on the field and pyschologically, have Flintoff's tourists on the verge of leaving Australia with one of the worst touring records and recriminations centering on coach Duncan Fletcher and Flintoff, who also act as the two tour selectors.

Australia have won their last 11 Tests and a fall in their intensity looks England's only way of salvaging something out of the wreckage.

SCG facing Mexican wave crackdown

Cricket Australia (CA) has banned fans from performing the Mexican wave during the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground from tomorrow.

CA spokesman Peter Young said the ban had been imposed because of the large volume of rubbish which was thrown into the air during the wave.

"The wave itself is pretty harmless but the problem is the throwing that's associated with it," he said.

"That throwing is dangerous and if you are injured by a heavy object it obviously ruins your day out.

"Objects, including heavy objects, have increasingly been thrown and we've had instances of people being injured and discomforted, and as such we've decided to ban the wave."

The ban is just one of a number of crowd control measures that have been put in place for the Test.