Australia's Andrew Symonds dives to try and stop the ball during the third day of the fourth Ashes cricket Test against England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground yesterday. - Reuters

MELBOURNE (Reuters):

Australia captain Ricky Ponting said his team's dream of comple-ting an Ashes series whitewash was now a reality after their crushing win over England in the fourth Test, yesterday.

Australia humiliated the tourists by an innings and 99 runs inside three days to head into next week's final Test, in Sydney, with a 4-0 lead.

First whitewash since 1920

They secured victory after tea when they bowled the tourists out for 161 to remain on course for a first 5-0 whitewash over their oldest rivals since 1920-21.

Fast bowler Brett Lee captured four wickets, while Stuart Clark grabbed three, Shane Warne two and Glenn McGrath one as Australia registered their biggest win over England on home soil since 1954 and their biggest at Melbourne since 1937.

Warne, who will retire after next week's fifth and final Test in Sydney, was named Man of the Match after taking seven wickets and scoring an unbeaten 40 in Australia's innings.

Warne became the first player to capture 700 Test wickets when he took 5-39 in the first innings and finished the match with 999 international wickets to his name.

England had trailed Australia by 260 runs on the first innings after bowling them out for 419 before lunch, but were unable to muster enough runs to make them bat a second time.

England's batting, which had let them down badly in each of the three previous Tests, failed again with the innings lasting only five hours and less than 66 overs.

'Create something special'

In another collective abject display, only opener, Andrew Strauss, with a defiant 31 over almost three hours, and wicket-keeper Chris Read (26 not out) took the fight to an Australian attack that was as ruthless as England were inept.

Ponting said his side had a real chance of emulating that success.

"You can't ever take for granted winning a Test match, it's not an easy thing to do," Ponting told a news conference. "It's hard work, but we have an opportunity now to create something very special for this team in Sydney and we'll be giving it the best shake we can to try and win that game."

Forlorn England captain Andrew Flintoff insisted his side could still avoid a whitewash.

England outplayed

Flintoff admitted England were outplayed in every department and session by the Australians, saying himself he sounded something like a broken record.

However, Flintoff was adamant there was the determination to come back in the final Test starting in Sydney, next Tuesday.

"It's been a tough trip, another tough three days," the big Lancastrian told reporters. "I'm disappointed, upset ... the emotions are all negative, but we've got one game left. We don't want to leave this country having been beaten 5-0. As bad as I feel now, come the game in Sydney we have to go out there and put on a show."