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Warne lets his bat do the talking Australia on course for whitewash
(about 3 hours later)
Shane Warne marked his final Test appearance with a cavalier innings of 71, the top score in Australia's 393 on day three of the Ashes Test in Sydney. England ended day three of the Sydney Test under severe pressure at 114-5 in their second innings, leading a buoyant Australia side by a mere 12 runs.
And when England began their second innings 102 runs adrift, Alastair Cook was bounced out by Brett Lee early on. Shane Warne marked his final Test appearance with a cavalier innings of 71, the top score in Australia's 393.
At tea, England were 43-1, Andrew Strauss having taken a fierce hit on his helmet but continuing to bat. And England's second innings was a stop-start affair, with only Kevin Pietersen (29 no) able to withstand the Aussie bowlers for any length of time.
A 68-run stand between Warne and Stuart Clark for the ninth wicket proved deeply frustrating for the tourists. Sydney locals Brett Lee and Stuart Clark had two wickets apiece.
And Warne had Andrew Flintoff stumped in the last few minutes of the day.
It looks like Australia will be able to celebrate a 5-0 Ashes series whitewash at some time on Friday.
England began the day needing to rock Australia's middle order with the second new ball still a distant prospect.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.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.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.Adam Gilchrist (62) and Andrew Symonds (48) began the onslaught by adding 70 for the sixth wicket.
Brett Lee's two wickets with the new ball rocked England
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.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.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 the prospect of a dreaded 5-0 whitewash is looming. 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. 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.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.But Warne was unbeaten on 40 at lunch and had the appetite for plenty more runs.
Andrew Flintoff removed Lee cheaply but the killer stand then developed as Warne and Clark rode their luck and England's defensive fields yielded some easy 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.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 finally stumped. 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.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.It was advantage Australia, and Lee tore into England's top order with the new ball.
Cook got nowhere near middling an attempted pull, and was out having faced just eight balls. 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.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.He bravely continued and, helped by Ian Bell, ensured England reached tea without having lost any futher wickets.
But the Aussies dealt out for 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 delivery well wide of off stump 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 did the rest.