Warne has England tail in his sights as whitewash looms large

Published on Thursday 4 January 2007 11:52

SHANE WARNE'S scriptwriters were at it again in Sydney as the spin-king hammered 71 to help Australia move within touching distance of a first Ashes whitewash in over 80 years.

The 37-year-old, who along with fast-bowler Glenn McGrath and opener Justin Langer will retire from Test cricket after this match, was the star of the show at his home ground in Melbourne claiming seven scalps and contributing an unbeaten 40 in Australia's crushing fourth Test win.

And he was at it again at the SCG in his farewell Test, hitting the England bowling attack for nine fours and two sixes as Australia passed the tourists' total and secured a potentially match-winning 102 run lead.

Things then went from bad to worse for England as opening pair Alastair Cook (4) and Andrew Strauss (24) along with Ian Bell (28), Paul Collingwood (17) and captain Andrew Flintoff (7) all found themselves back in the pavilion as Australia cranked up the pressure to leave England on 114-5 and with a slender lead of just 12 at the close of play.

And with Kevin Pietersen England's only recognised batsman left at the crease Warne - who was targeting a fairytale maiden Test century - expects tomorrow to be his last outing in the Test arena

"I'd be pretty disappointed if we didn't win tomorrow," he said. "With KP and Monty (Panesar) in the middle we would expect to wrap things up.

"KP is dangerous but we've said all along if we expose their last four or five men we feel we can knock them over quickly.

"I'll be sad when it all comes to an end but excited by the future. My body is telling me it is time to call it a day and it gives me the chance to spend more time with my family."

The tourists found themselves in a good position on the third morning and when James Anderson had Michael Hussey caught behind without adding to his overnight score of 37, Australia still trailed by 101 with just five wickets in hand.

But unlike England's tail, Australia can bat beyond number six and they did so in style adding 173, more than their top five, as the balance of power shifted dramatically.

Andrew Symonds and wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist were the first to wreak havoc, adding 70 for the sixth wicket before Panesar bowled Symonds for 48. It was then the turn of the ever-charismatic Warne to take centre stage with a four, a six, a huge appeal for caught behind and a fierce sledging match with Paul Collingwood all occurring in his first over.

But the all-time leading Test wicket taker was the coolest man in the SCG as alongside Gilchrist the duo smashed 58 in seven devastating overs.

Gilchrist became Anderson's second victim of the day for 62 with a thin edge to Read before Brett Lee (5) was removed by Flintoff.

But then came the killer partnership as Stuart Clark (35) and Warne, rode their luck en route, adding 68 before falling victim to Mahmood and Panesar respectively.

With Australia once again in the driving seat, Lee quickly set about wreaking havoc on the tourists' top order with Cook, his first casualty, top-edging an attempted pull skywards and into the gloves of Gilchrist.

Strauss then took a snorter on the helmet and, despite surviving until tea, became Clark's 25th wicket of the series shortly afterwards.

Lee then had Bell caught behind, before Collingwood - having looked solid for 36 balls - tamely edged a wide Clark delivery to Matthew Hayden at gully.

Flintoff then threw his wicket away when the ever-green Gilchrist stumped the England skipper as he looked to defend a Warne delivery.

And Anderson admitted the England tail had to start wagging, and quickly, if the tourists were to have any chance of avoiding etching their names in the history books as the first England team to lose 5-0 in the Ashes since the 1920-21 series.

"We need KP to stick around but the tail has to wag," said Anderson, the pick of England's bowlers with figures of 3-98.

"We have seen how crucial it can be and now we have to do likewise or it is all over.

"All the bowlers work on their batting and if we can add some useful runs then anything can happen."