Australia makes it 4-0 in Test series

MELBOURNE, Dec. 28 (UPI) -- Australia thrashed England by an inning and 99 runs to win the fourth cricket test in Melbourne and go 4-0 in the five-match series.

The Australians ended their first innings with 419 runs in reply to England's meager total of 159.

England then lost their top-order batsmen in rapid succession to end their second appearance on 161. Opener Andrew Strauss was top scorer with 31.

Brett Lee did most of the damage for Australia, ending with 4 for 47 and Stuart Clark took 3 for 30. Shane Warne, playing his last test before his hometown crowd, ended with 3 for 30.