Weary England caving in

England slumped towards an almost inevitable defeat in the fourth Ashes Test today after Australia made inroads into their top order to strengthen their position at the MCG.

The tourists had made a solid start to their second innings after dismissing Australia for 419 to concede a 260-run first-innings deficit, with Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook forging a 41-run opening stand.

But the loss of three wickets in six overs shortly after lunch followed by the departure of Paul Collingwood and Strauss either side of tea left the tourists struggling on 91 for five - still trailing by 169 runs.

England's opening pair had been forced to battle through 12 tricky overs before lunch on the third day after Australia's innings was ended in mid-morning.

They had looked comfortable apart from an early reprieve for Cook, who was the latest batsman to be given the benefit of the doubt by umpire Rudi Koertzen when he appeared to have been hit right in front of his stumps by veteran seamer Glenn McGrath.

Just three overs after the interval, however, seamer Stuart Clark claimed the first of his two wickets in six overs when he tempted Cook, who was on 20, into driving without moving his feet and the inside edge crashed on to his stumps.

New batsman Bell lasted only 20 minutes before McGrath claimed his first victim when he was hit on the pads in front of his stumps. This time Koertzen raised his finger having dismissed virtually every other appeal during the match.

Having had his role at number five questioned throughout the series, Kevin Pietersen was finally returned to the number four position he settled into so successfully in his maiden Ashes series 15 months ago.

But it was a far from successful experiment, with Clark knocking back his off-stump with an inswinger after Pietersen made just one to leave England needing a miracle to prevent Australia taking a 4-0 lead in the series.

Collingwood battled hard for nearly an hour but shortly before tea became Brett Lee's first victim when he drove straight to short extra cover off the front foot after making 16. Strauss was dismissed after interval, edging a delivery from Lee through to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist.