Day five report
England yet again had no answer to Steve Smith as the Australia captain took his Ashes tally to 604 runs this winter with his third century to close out a predictable stalemate at the MCG.
The hosts can no longer achieve a third 5-0 whitewash in England's last four visits – but after Smith's unbeaten 102, batting against type on a deathly slow pitch, they dashed any hopes of a consolation victory for Joe Root's men in this fourth Test and so stay three up with one to play.
Smith lost the assistance of an equally becalmed David Warner (86) in late morning, after Australia resumed still 61 in arrears with two wickets down, but he batted throughout the final day to steer Australia to the security of 263 for four to close out the draw 99 in front.
There was zero promise for England through the majority of the first session, as they failed to get the old ball off straight – and there was precious little variable bounce either.
Root had already given Dawid Malan's part-time leg-breaks a run when he decided there was no harm in finding out if he himself could maybe turn the ball the other way here.
Warner had spent more than five hours in stoic self-denial, no mean feat for a batsman whose career has been characterised throughout by attacking intent and flair.
The sight of Root's occasional off-breaks was too much, though, and he went after the first he faced – the Yorkshireman's second delivery in all – and paid the price.
Root pitched it perfectly into a foothold just outside the left-hander's off-stump, but Warner went after it all the same and managed only to skew a catch high into the safe hands of James Vince at extra-cover.
Shortly afterwards, Smith followed Warner's slowest Test half-century with his own second-slowest – from 151 balls, 10 fewer than the opener – but when Shaun Marsh fell to a brilliant catch by Jonny Bairstow off Stuart Broad on the stroke of lunch, two wickets had fallen for six runs.
England therefore started the afternoon with renewed belief in the improbable, but Smith had other ideas.
Joined by Mitch Marsh, with whom he had put on a record 301 at the WACA, the world's number one batsman was on a mission to protect his team's series advantage.
Marsh needed 20 deliveries to get off the mark but, apart from squirting one thick edge just short of point, he was once again an able accomplice in his captain's plans as Australia comfortably negotiated the second new ball.
After two sessions, the statistics bordered on an uncanny symmetry as Australia went from 61 runs behind to the same number in front – off 61.1 overs.
It was an unfeasible crawl, Marsh playing his own manful part with 10 almost strokeless runs from 97 balls up to tea.
In what remained of the 'contest', more of the same followed – interrupted only by the highlight of Smith's century milestone, from 259 balls with six fours spread over almost seven hours – before an early close was mercifully agreed, with the home captain averaging 151.
- Australia have added spinner Ashton Agar to their squad for next week's fifth and final Test in Sydney
Day four report
Cook had no opportunity to add to his 10-and-a-half-hour tour-de-force on the morning resumption, because his 10th-wicket partner Anderson was gone immediately – caught at short-leg off Pat Cummins (four for 117).
It meant England's all-time record runscorer was still able to bag another claim to fame, however, by becoming just the eighth from his country to carry his bat in a Test innings and first since Michael Atherton at Christchurch in 1997.
It also meant an earlier start to the rearguard than Australia had doubtless anticipated.
Warner and Cameron Bancroft were not fazed, however, in a half-century opening stand.
Bancroft's departure at that point was a surprise - bowled off an inside-edge by Chris Woakes, who had come on as first change after just four overs and was quickly paired up with Tom Curran as Joe Root deployed Anderson and Stuart Broad for only five between them with the new ball.
By then, there was already chuntering afoot in several commentary boxes about England's treatment of the ball – including the universal practice of throwing it in from the outfield on the bounce, in the hope of finding reverse-swing via scuffing for later in the innings.
England were made aware by the umpires that they were keeping an eye on the tactic.
Reverse-swing did enter the equation in due course – and after Anderson returned to have Usman Khawaja caught-behind, lateral movement in the air was the chief threat to Warner and Smith.
They responded, against type, by taking their watchfulness to extremes in a peculiarly stoic stand which saw just 33 runs added in almost 20 overs through a rain-interrupted second session.
Combative opener Warner's share, an unbeaten 40 from 140 balls, was a jarring contrast with the majority of his exploits in a career characterised by attacking intent.
It was serving Australia's purpose, however – with plenty more resistance still needed if the weather relents on day five.
Day three report
