England Three Wickets From History

England are on the verge of a crushing 3-1 Ashes victory, and with it the first series win down under in 24 years.

At stumps on day four in Sydney, Australia were 213/7- an imposing 151 runs behind and staring at a third defeat by an innings in the current series.

James Anderson displayed an outstanding showing of reverse swing in the afternoon session, while Chris Tremlett battered the Australian middle-order into submission with hostile pace.

Earlier on, Matt Prior's first Ashes hundred helped England to their highest ever total in Australia.

Predictions that the SCG pitch would deteriorate from day four onwards did not appear a reality, as Prior, on 54 not out, and Bresnan continued a marathon England innings.

The two right-handers ran Australia into the ground with an invaluable stand of 102 from only 28.2 overs- perfect practice for the up and coming one-day series.

Their stand was the third century partnership in succession, as the lower order built on a mediocre platform provided to them.

Prior’s innings finally came to a close after he edged a high bouncer from Ben Hilfenhaus, but not before claiming the record of the fastest Ashes century by an Englishman since Ian Botham's legendary 118 off 102 balls at Old Trafford in 1981.

Chasing a deficit of over 350 always meant that Australia were never going to be in it for the win, so it became an old-school battle of perseverance whereby the top-order would have to deliver. This was not the case.

Shane Watson started brightly before a horrendous run out. Anderson saw off both Usman Khawaja and Michael Clarke in a legendary six-over spell, which defined just how far he has come as a frontline strike bowler.

Hughes, clearly rattled by his incompetence at running between the wickets, did not last too much longer as he edged a length ball from Bresnan to Prior.

The host’s remote chance of salvaging any bit of pride all but imploded when Mike Hussey pushed Bresnan to point.

Tremlett then produced one of the spells of the summer including firing in a scorching bouncer to Haddin, which resulted in a fourth catch to Prior behind the stumps. To close out a sensational day he then bowled Johnson first ball up.

Although going wicketless in the second innings, Swann did what he does best by maintaining the pressure.

The atmosphere was electric on the fourth day, as the rafters echoed the sounds of Jerusalem and God Save the Queen.

England will look to wrap up proceedings early on here tomorrow to ignite a celebration two decades in the making.

The situation is simple. England needs three wickets. Australia needs a miracle.