Pat Murphy describes the dramatic finale as England win the fourth Test

Australia, who were comfortable at one point at 102 for 2, collapsed dramatically and were all out for 162 all out.

The vital wicket to go was 11th man Glenn McGrath, who was bowled for a duck after coming on to partner Steve Waugh.

Chasing a modest target of 175 to win, Australia had been poised to extend their series lead to 3-0.

They were given an early scare when they began their innings by losing openers Michael Slater and Mark Taylor inside the opening 11 overs while Waugh was dropped by Graeme Hick at second slip off the first delivery he faced.

But then came a horrendous collapse.

England were all out for 244 in their second innings at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Starting the day on 65-2, England lost their last eight wickets for 179 to be all out at tea.

Australia already led by 70 runs after their first innings having scored 340 in reply to England's 270.

England soldier on

Three England batsmen, Alec Stewart, Nasser Hussain and Graeme Hick, scored half centuries but none of the other eight players even reached 20.

England's hopes of building a big score suffered an early setback when nightwatchman Dean Headley was bowled by Glenn McGrath for one in the third over of the day.

They produced a string of reasonable partnerships after that but no-one was able to go on and make a big score.

Stewart, who made a hundred in the first innings, added nine runs to his overnight score of 43 before he departed soon after with the total on 78, caught by Michael Slater off leg spinner Stuart MacGill.

Hussain and Mark Ramprakash, England's most successful batsmen in this current series, added 49 for the fourth wicket before Ramprakash was clean bowled by test debutant Matthew Nicholson for 14.

Hick last hope

Hussain, who reached his fourth half century of the tour in the over before lunch, shared a 51-run partnership with Hick before he was caught by Slater off Nicholson at backward point for 50.

England's last real hopes of a big total faded when Hick was bowled by Damien Fleming for 60.

Alan Mullally, who had made five ducks in the series, provided some light-hearted entertainment with an adventurous innings of 16.

Scorecard

Australia v England

Melbourne

England Second Innings

M A Atherton b Fleming 0
A J Stewart c Slater b MacGill 52
M A Butcher c Slater b MacGill 14
D W Headley b McGrath 1
N Hussain c Slater b Nicholson 50
M R Ramprakash b Nicholson 14
G A Hick b Fleming 60
W K Hegg c MacGill b Nicholson 9
D Gough c Slater b MacGill 4
A R C Fraser not out 7
A D Mullally c & b McGrath 16
Extras b2 lb4 nb11 17
Total (80.2 overs) 244
Fall: 1-5 2-61 3-66 4-78 5-127 6-178 7-202 8-221 9-221

Australia Second Innings

M J Slater lbw b Headley 18
M A Taylor c Headley b Mullally 19
J L Langer c Ramprakash b Mullally 30
M E Waugh not out 30
S R Waugh not out 1
Extras 7
Fall: 1-31 2-41 3-103