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December 26, 2006 (Link to Scorecard)

Shane Warne created history on the Boxing Day at Melbourne by becoming the first bowler in the history of Test Match Cricket to take 700 wickets. The leggie achieved the feat when his fizzing leg break had got through the bat pad gap of Andrew Strauss to disturb his woodwork in the afternoon session of the first day of the fourth Ashes Test. Warney didn't stop there and had completed his 37th five-wicket haul as England got shot out for a paltry 159. The tourists fought back by getting two Australian wickets before stumps.

Australia are in a great position to enforce a 4-0 to England who are already put on the backfoot in this game having put up a tiny total on the board. Andrew Strauss was the only batsman to get to a respectable score, he scored exactly 50 before being part of history. Paul Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen were the next top scorers with their twenties. Pietersen was once again helpless as his partners at the other end couldn't provide him any support, he was the ninth batsman to get out. England got bowled out inside 75 overs with Shane Warne taking 5 for 39 in just 17.2 overs. Brett Lee and Stuart Clark picked up a couple of wickets each while McGrath took one wicket.

In reply, Australia lost the wickets of Justin Langer and night watchman to Andrew Flintoff in consecutive deliveries. They would require wickets to fall in a heap if they have to come back in this test match and save themselves from getting close to a whitewash in this 5-Test Series. At close of play, Australia are at 48 for 2 with Hayden on 17 and Ponting yet to open his account.

The Aussies remained unchanged for this match while England made one change with Chris Read coming in for Geraint Jones who has had a miserable outing with the bat. Chris Read could contribute just 3 before becoming Shane Warne's 701st victim.

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