THIRD TEST - DAY FOUR

Anderson's off stump is cart wheeling as he is dismissed by Harris for 3.

The end when it came, it came quickly.

The hoped for fight back by Ian Bell and Matt Prior for the English cause didn't materialize as the remainder of the English middle order and tail were mopped up in fifty minutes of play in a blink-and-you-miss-it morning session.

Anderson was the first wicket to fall for the day when he had his off stump uprooted by an inspired Ryan Harris. Anderson survived fourteen balls for his three runs, but the recriminations as to just why he refused the single that would have taken Collingwood off strike the evening before will continue for some time yet. It was - at best - a strange decision.

Bell was the next to go when he fell to the same bowler - LBW for sixteen. Harris was warming up now and was searching for his maiden five wicket haul in test cricket. To do so in an Ashes test would be even sweeter.

Harris did not have to wait long as he captured the wicket of Prior for ten when Hussey took a fantastic diving catch in the gully. Harris held the ball aloft to the generous applause of those present at the WACA and from appreciative team mates.

Mitchell Johnson then chimed in with the wicket of Graeme Swann for nine when he had that player bowled off the inside edge to claim his third wicket of the innings and his ninth for the match. A welcome return to form for the enigmatic Johnson.

Ryan Harris claims a maiden five wicket haul.

Harris deservedly finished off proceedings when he had Steven Finn caught by Smith at slip for two to wrap up the English innings at a barely believable 123. Ryan Harris innings analysis of 6 for 47 was just reward for some quality bowling in this test and in the heavy defeat in Adelaide.

After the crushing defeat in Adelaide, Australia did not look capable of winning a game this summer such was the apparent hopelessness of their plight. However, something clicked this test match - that something being Mitchell Johnson. It cannot be underestimated that Johnson's change of fortunes contributes much to the esprit de corps of the Australian team and that was shown to be the case in this test. When Johnson fires - Australia usually wins.

Much has already been said about Mike Hussey and his epic contributions in this series, but Shane Watson also deserves high praise for batting consistently, but without breaking through for a century in this series. Hussey and Watson along with Haddin have been the mainstays of the Australian batting line up.

At the other end of the spectrum, Phil Hughes is in lamentable form which accentuates his technical foibles, so getting selected at this point of time may not have been the best step for his long term development. Like Matthew Hayden before him, Hughes needs to spend time playing first class cricket and tightening his technique under the watchful eye of someone like Greg Chappell who helped Shane Watson no end.

Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke are also both in the batting doldrums and must arrest the slide immediately for Australia to have any chance of wresting back the Ashes. Ponting needs to see out the remainder of his illustrious career from the less demanding confines of number four or five. Clarke on the other hand seems to be in a slump that is harder to put a finger on. It may be that he simply does not enjoy batting at number four as much as he did at number five?

The reliance on Hussey, Watson and Haddin is rather unhealthy and cannot continue if Australia hopes to prosper.

In the English camp, the sudden decline in reliability of Paul Collingwood who has hitherto given Yeoman service to the English cause is a great concern. So confident in the batting line up have been the tourists, that a plan B has barely crossed their minds. It might have to now.

What of Steven Finn? There are many English supporters who have lost faith in the young tyro and are calling for the steady Tim Bresnan to replace him. Strange really, when you consider that Finn is the leading wicket taker on both sides for the series. Finn has leaked runs though and must learn to bowl tighter lines.

Graeme Swann had a test he would rather forget, but at the WACA where even Shane Warne hardly got a wicket, it is hardly the end of the world. He will find Melbourne and Sydney especially more to his liking.

So we now move on to the block buster Boxing Day test at the MCG which will surely have an opening day crowd somewhere in the regions of 90,000 now that both teams are tied up at 1-1. Whoever seizes the early initiative will go a long way towards winning the Ashes.

See you in Melbourne!