Cricket: Showers stymie any hope of England glory

MCG. Photo / AAP

Showers have stymied England's hopes of a dead-rubber victory at the MCG, with rain ruining around one-and-a-half sessions on day four of the fourth Ashes test.

Australia were 103-2 at stumps yesterday, trailing by 61 runs with their two best batsmen at the crease.

David Warner and Steve Smith loom as the tourists' most imposing roadblocks as they seek to restore some pride after relinquishing the urn in Perth.

Warner is 40 not out from 140 balls, having faced more maidens in this dig than any other of his test innings.

Smith is unbeaten on 25, also batting cautiously a day after coach Darren Lehmann all but conceded Australia's hopes of another whitewash had been extinguished by Alastair Cook's record-breaking knock.

Wet weather forced umpires to stop play 12 overs into the post-lunch session.

The action resumed but umpires called for the covers soon after. Play was officially abandoned at 5.15pm local time.

Warner and Smith's partnership has lasted 22.4 overs but featured only 38 runs. Lehmann suggested England's fields and bowling tactics were a major reason for the stonewall.

"You can't do much there," Lehmann said. "The ball is obviously reversing. It is tough work for a new batter, so once you are in you have to stay in."

England were bowed out for 491 on Friday morning at the MCG, where Jimmy Anderson fell for a duck off the first ball and Cook carried his bat to finish 244 not out.