Australia have to bat out the entire last day tomorrow to prevent losing their first home Test defeat in four years to a resurgent England in the fifth Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Nasser Hussain's men, outclassed by the Australians in the previous four Tests of the series, are on the verge of a tremendous victory having set the world champions an historically out-of-reach 452 runs for victory.
Australia, who have dominated world cricket in recent seasons, last lost a Test match at home in December 1998, also against England, in the fourth Boxing Day Test in Melbourne by 12 runs.
England, who declared their second innings at 452 for nine off 125.3 overs today, made giant inroads into the Australian batting line-up in the 20 overs to stumps, removing Justin Langer (3), Matthew Hayden (2) and Ricky Ponting (11). At the close, Australia were trying to keep their heads above water at 91 for three with pinch hitter Andy Bichel, on his highest Test score of 49 not out and Damien Martyn on 19.
England paceman Andy Caddick, who today overtook Darren Gough to become England's seventh leading Test wicket-taker with 229, was relishing the thought of victory after the day's play. "I expect to win this game, it will be very difficult to bat on that wicket tomorrow if we put the ball in the right areas, but we have to be patient," Caddick said.
Meanwhile, Hayden was charged with a code of conduct offence after a glass panel of the Aussie's dressing room door was smashed. Hayden was out to a contentious lbw decision to Matthew Hoggard and as the batsman returned to the dressing room a glass panel of an entrance door was broken. The punishment will either be an official reprimand and/or a fine of 50% of the match fee.
Australia's miserable day was completed when they were displaced at the top of the world test championship by South Africa, who today beat Pakistan in the second test in Cape Town to seal the two-match series. Pakistan, resuming on 184 for five after following on 368 runs behind South Africa's 620 for seven declared, were dismissed for 226 on the fourth morning to lose by an innings and 142 runs. Australia have led the test championship since it was inaugurated in May 2001 but have yet to play the two weakest sides, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
Filed by James Boylan.
