Ashes T4 Day 3 Stumps: England on Verge of Australia's Ashes Annihilation

Australia can all but kiss the Ashes urn goodbye. That is because they really do not stand a chance of keeping their Ashes history intact at home anymore as Jonathan Trott led the way with the bat as did Tim Bresnan with the ball, steering England closer to their Ashes realization down under.

jonathan trott runs in glee

At stumps on the third day of the fourth Test of the Ashes 2010 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia need more than a miracle to stop England from changing the course of Ashes in Australia in over two decades. For Ricky Ponting, the writing is pretty much on the wall, set to go down in Ashes history as the Australian captain to lose the Ashes thrice since Billy Murdoch in 1890.

The ignominy seems inevitable now as Australia are fighting with only four wickets in hand and have the better part of 246 runs still to overcome as part of the deficit accrued as England finished in a towering position on 513 in their first innings on the back of Australia's paltry ninety-eight.

Matt Prior missed a century, dismissed by Peter Siddle for eighty-five, Trott was pivotal in ensuring that Australia would stay buried on day three as they did on the second day. Aptly rewarded with a Test century overnight, Trott finished on an unbeaten 168 that has virtually ensured that England will almost definitely retain the urn.

Peter Siddle's six wicket haul failed to impress upon the match as Australia found themselves in a situation where they must once again fight to avoid an innings defeat and of losing the series altogether instead of taking the battle to the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

This time it was Tim Bresnan, who replaced Steven Finn in the match, who put the brakes on Australia having a chance to stretch the battle. Phil Hughes was tragically run out while Bresnan struck for Australia after Shane Watson played a battling half century. Suddenly Australia found themselves at three down for 102 as Ricky Ponting's stumps were rattled by Bresnan once more.

Two runs and two overs later, Bresnan had his third wicket of the day as he removed the thorn in England's flesh this Ashes in Michael Hussey, virtually nailing the coffin at four down for 104. Thirty runs later, Graeme Swann was a rejoicing spectacle as Michael Clarke painted a poor picture of an Australian team distraught.

England have every reason to believe that the Ashes celebration could come sooner than expected on the fourth day with Australia battling for some pride at 169 for six with their arsenal all but exhausted.