England is on course to achieve one of its greatest triumphs in Australia by inflicting an unprecedented humiliation.
Never before in almost 134 years of Test cricket has Australia lost three Tests in a series by an innings.
Only a prolonged repeat of yesterday evening’s monsoonal downpour can prevent England from achieving another emphatic victory in the fifth and final Test at the SCG to take the series 3-1.
Australia will resume today on 7-213, still needing 151 simply to make England bat again.
It will be England’s first series success in this country for 24 years.
Shane Watson, who was run-out in a dreadful mix-up with Phil Hughes for 38, conceded the depth of Australia’s despair.
“There’s no doubt with the performances we have shown over the last little while that we have to turn it around and it does come down to the players alone to turn it around,” Watson said.
Full story: The Australian