Warne toys with favourite prey

SHANE Warne savoured every second of his final confrontation with England to deliver one of his best all-round displays yesterday, and put Australia on the brink of an Ashes whitewash.

The 37-year-old has tormented England throughout his career with his leg-spin, claiming a staggering 193 wickets in his 35 Tests to play a leading role in Australia's Ashes dominance over the past decade. But he chose his final Test to deliver another of his cameo innings which changed the momentum on the third day at the SCG and put Australia firmly in control as they bid to claim the first 5-0 Ashes scoreline since 1920-21.

Warne hammered a brilliant 71 off only 65 balls to help transform a 103-run deficit overnight into a 102-run lead and by the close England were reeling just 12 runs ahead on 114 for five after he had removed captain Andrew Flintoff in the penultimate over of the day.

Warne waged a single-handed war on England's morale, relishing a sledging battle with Paul Collingwood which had to be diffused by umpire Billy Bowden and only served to fire him up even more. After the Durham batsman suggested a portly-looking Warne had thrown caution to the wind somewhat over the festive period, the feisty Victorian hit back.

"You got an MBE, right? For scoring seven at the Oval? You're an embarrassment," Warne sneered, referring to Collingwood's honour, which he received in the aftermath of England's Ashes triumph last year despite scoring only 17 runs (a 10 and a seven) in his sole Test of the series.

Warne went on to visibly dedicate every big shot he played to Collingwood. It was an exchange which seemed to show how much the hoopla surrounding England's 2005 Ashes win (their first in 18 years) had rankled with the Australians.

"It fires me up a bit and I told him that in Adelaide, too," explained Warne. "I was letting him know my thoughts as well and that was making me concentrate and make me even more determined."

Australia had resumed in a potentially tricky position on 188 for four and lost Mike Hussey in the second over of the day when he edged James Anderson behind. Even after a determined 70-run partnership between Andrew Symonds and the hard-hitting Adam Gilchrist they were not in anything like a strong position.

Symonds was bowled by left-arm spinner Monty Panesar when he was tempted into hitting over the top by Flintoff pushing the fielders in to mark the arrival of Warne to a standing ovation.

Straight away he responded by sweeping his first ball for four and then pulling Panesar for six, only to survive a strong appeal for a catch behind off his glove in the same over. Collingwood was in Warne's ear about that lucky escape, but the Australian had the last laugh as he wielded the willow with increasing aplomb, going on to become the home side's top scorer in the innings. He contributed 38 to a 58-run stand with Gilchrist off only 44 balls which was only broken by another debatable umpiring misjudgement.

Australia lost Brett Lee cheaply after tea but Warne still managed to add 75 runs for the final three wickets, including adding 68 with a determined Stuart Clark, before being stumped charging Panesar.

Warne's efforts laid the foundations for another superlative display from Australia's seamers on a wicket still offering assistance and extra bounce. Alastair Cook fell in the third over mis-timing an attempted pull and two balls later Lee felled Strauss when he ducked into a bouncer and was hit at the back of the helmet. Strauss batted on for an hour before becoming one of two victims for Clark and by the time he had returned from a brain scan at a nearby hospital having been given the all-clear, England had slumped into trouble.

The only resistance was a 34-run stand between Kevin Pietersen and Collingwood, which was ended just eight overs before the close when the latter drove Clark to gully. To complete a memorable day for Warne, he swooped to dismiss Flintoff in the penultimate over of the day when the England captain pushed forward defensively and was beaten by a sharp-turning leg-break which enabled Gilchrist to complete the stumping.