England managed to rescue defeat from the jaws of victory when losing the Fourth Test match in Melbourne to offer the distinct possibility of a 5-0 whitewash for Australia in the current Ashes series. After a second day in which the Aussies had been reduced to 164-9 at close of play, even the most ardent of home supporters must have thought that the tourists would finally claim a victory, yet England defied the odds to lose once again.