Aussies closing in on victory at the MCG after breaking for lunch on 143-1.
Skipper Alastair Cook dropped two catches as England searched for early breakthroughs to prevent Australia from taking a 4-0 series lead in the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne on Sunday.
The two fielding blunders were not what England wanted as Australia set out for the 201 runs they need to win the Melbourne Test after cleaning up the Ashes series in 14 playing days.
Cook got his right hand to a snick from Chris Rogers on 19 through slips after wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow failed to respond and then the England captain dropped a straightforward two-handed chance from David Warner (22) off Chris Broad.
Warner scored only three more runs before he was caught behind off Ben Stokes and Australia’s first wicket came down at 64.
Rogers went on to score his fourth half-century of the series and at lunch Australia were 143 for one with Rogers on 81 and Shane Watson not out and approaching 50.
Australia clinched the Ashes with big wins in the opening three Tests in Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
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