Aussies leave Hussain hoping for Headingley miracle

Australia return to the scene of one of their most famous Ashes defeats this week with an altogether more flattering slice of history firmly in their sights.

The Australians, 3-0 up with two to play, have already assured themselves of a place in the record books by claiming a seventh Ashes series in a row.

Victory in the fourth test at Headingley would also leave them on the brink of only the second 5-0 whitewash since the Ashes were launched in 1882-83.

England, meanwhile, must content themselves with playing for pride -- what little of it they have left after three savage maulings -- while dreaming of a miraculous 1981 repeat.

The ruthlessness of Australia's victories to date, however -- by an innings and 118 runs, by eight wickets and by seven -- suggest another three-day stroll.

So does the venue.

Only two of Headingley's last 18 tests have ended in draws, with the Australians winning the last three Ashes tests there by 210 runs, by an innings and 148 and by an innings and 61.

Australia, however, will have to win without their captain Steve Waugh, sidelined by a torn calf muscle.

England, in contrast, while still without Graham Thorpe, will have a rusty Nasser Hussain back at the helm after he missed the second and third tests with a broken finger.

Adam Gilchrist, Waugh's understudy, might be tempted to begin his team talk by harking back to the 1920-21 Ashes whitewash by Warwick Armstrong's Australians in an attempt to avoid complacency.

Hussain might be equally tempted to go back 20 years for his inspiration.

Miraculous Fightback
That 1981 Headingley match saw England, thanks to Ian Botham and Bob Willis, fight back from 174 all out and 135 for seven in their second innings, still 92 behind after following on, to win the match by 18 runs.

Hussain, however, has no modern-day Botham or Willis. A draw -- or even a performance meriting a fifth day, yet to be achieved during this series -- would probably be seen as a moral victory.

England, having axed all-rounder Craig White -- no Botham he, with one for 189 with the ball and 7.6 with the bat -- look set to add left-armer Alan Mullally to an all-seam attack, recalling him for his first test in over a year-and-a-half.

Australia, meanwhile, may replace Waugh with the uncapped left-handed batsman Simon Katich ahead of Justin Langer.

They could also be tempted to drop paceman Brett Lee for the first time, to make way for Damien Fleming's swing and seam.

Fleming has taken 19 wickets in the tour games at 20.52 without getting a call-up and would be ideally suited to Headingley, traditionally a seamer's delight.

Lee, however, reputedly the quickest bowler in the world but who arrived in England barely fit after elbow surgery, has continued to improve throughout the tour.

Yet Australia remain massive favourites whoever they select.

The task facing England is reflected in their being quoted at 100-1 by British bookmakers Ladbrokes to win the last two tests of the series.

Miracles, however, do happen. In 1981 England were at 500-1 before Botham began to re-write the unlikeliest of scripts.

Mail Cricket Editor