Aussies chase Ashes series lead

Australia carry the momentum of their thumping Perth victory over faltering England into the fourth Melbourne Test on Sunday with the series finely balanced at a win each.

A shroud of national gloom lifted as Ricky Ponting’s team hit back with a commanding 267-run win in the third Test at the WACA just as England looked poised for their first series triumph Down Under since 1986-87.

One more win

The tourists need only one more win from the remaining two Tests to hold on to the urn won back last year. But after Australia’s comprehensive victory, local bookmakers have installed them as favourites to go on and win the series.

Australia looked a different team in Perth with pacemen Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris taking 18 wickets between them as England slumped to sub-200 scores in both innings.

Ponting believes man-of-the-match Johnson’s spell of four wickets in just 27 balls in England’s first innings changed the complexion of the series after England’s crushing win by an innings in Adelaide.

“Mitch’s spell was unbelievable, probably one of the all-time great Ashes spells, it set up the victory and no doubt has now set up the series for us,” Ponting said.

A dilemma for Australia will be whether to retain the four-man pace attack that was so effective on the lively WACA wicket, or call up untried spinner Michael Beer on the drop-in MCG pitch. Meanwhile, England will be trying to rid the perception that their own four-pronged bowling attack is feeling the pinch after three compressed Tests and mounting injury concerns.

Main bowler Jimmy Anderson looked pained by a side strain and Steve Finn fatigued after bowling 36 overs in Perth, coming on top of Stuart Broad’s series-ending abdominal injury in Adelaide.

Forgettable time

Premier spinner Graeme Swann had a forgettable time in Perth, capturing just two wickets and conceding plenty of runs.

“All the work we have done so far on this tour has given us a lot of confidence,” opener Alastair Cook said. “We scored runs heavily against the bowling attack before and we can do it again. We have to trust ourselves.”

England coach Andy Flower preferred to focus on Australia’s top-order batting frailties as he mapped a way back into the series.

“There is no doubt that everything is not rosy in their camp. One Test match does not create that, we realise that,” Flower said.

Shane Watson and Mike Hussey have been “very good for them so far” but the rest of the top order has been unconvincing, “and we will be looking to make the most of that in the next Test”, he said. Hussey is the series top-scorer with 517 runs at an average of 103.40 and Watson has made 293 runs. But Ponting has just 83 runs at 16.60 and vice-captain Michael Clarke has only made it into double figures twice. Ponting also has injury issues after fracturing the little finger on his left hand in Perth.

The drop-in pitch for the Boxing Day Test is expected to be more favourable for Australia’s pace attack, but ground officials deny any skullduggery. AFP

Fourth Ashes Test factfile

FOURTH TEST - Melbourne Cricket Ground, December 26-30 Officials are anticipating a record first-day crowd to surpass the single-day record of 90,800 against the West Indies in 1961. The corresponding Boxing Day crowd on the last Ashes tour in 2006 attracted 89,155. The record aggregate attendance for an Ashes Test at the MCG is 350,534 during the 1936-37 series.

Australia’s only loss at the MCG this decade was against South Africa two years ago as the Proteas went on to win their first-ever series in Australia.

Only Lord’s (121) has staged more Test matches than the MCG (102).

MCG head-to-head record: Played 53. Australia won 27, England 19, drawn 7 (1 abandoned due to rain in 1970).

Highest scores: Australia 604 (1936-37); England 589 (1911-12) Lowest completed scores: Australia 104 (1876-77); England 61 (1901-02 and 1903-04)

Biggest wins: Australia innings and 200 runs (1936-37), Australia 365 runs (1936-37); England innings and 225 runs (1911-12)

Highest individual score: Bob Cowper (AUS) 307 (1965-66); Walter Hammond (ENG) 200 (1928-29).

Highest individual score (vs allcomers): Bob Cowper (AUS) 307 v England 1965-66.

Best bowling (innings): Arthur Mailey (AUS) 9-121 (1920-21); Wilfred Rhodes (ENG) 8-68 (1903-04).

Highest partnership: Jack Fingleton-Don Bradman (AUS) 346 6th wkt (1936-37); Jack Hobbs-Wilfred Rhodes (ENG) 323 1st wkt (1911-12)