The Ashes: Australia's Ashes hopes in tatters

On the game's biggest stage, Australia threw away any hopes of regaining the Ashes by scoring a record-low 98 in a humiliating display on day one of the fourth Test in Melbourne.

Australia's worst first-innings batting performance in an MCG Test has left England perfectly placed to retain the urn.

After loose shot-making contributed to Australia's demise, Ricky Ponting's men rounded off a woeful day with some wayward bowling as England reached 0-157 from 47 overs.

Captain Andrew Strauss was unbeaten on 64 with Alastair Cook 80 not out, closing in on his third century of the series.

More than one-third of the crowd of 84,345 had departed before the end of the day, and who could blame them.

While fortuned favoured England early, winning the toss in overcast conditions on a green-tinged pitch, James Anderson (4-44) and Chris Tremlett (4-26) made their own luck by pitching up and using swing and seam to mesmerise Australia's batsmen.

Strauss had predicted patience would be the key to batting in Melbourne and only Michael Clarke with 20 in 89 minutes managed to hang around for any length of time for Australia.

Australia's innings lasted only 42.5 overs and was over in the blink of an eye at 3.14pm.

England wicketkeeper Matt Prior took six catches.

Shane Watson (5), Phil Hughes (16), Ponting (10) and Mike Hussey (8) all fell in a disastrous opening session.

Tremlett's extra bounce troubled Watson, who was caught at gully.

The aggressive Hughes blazed an attempted drive to gully off Tim Bresnan's bowling at 2-37, after Bresnan was recalled to the side ahead of Steven Finn.

Ponting, who is playing despite a fractured little finger, was out next over as he offered a catch to second slip.

The skipper's average for the series is a miserable 15.50 and a third Ashes series defeat would leave his Test future in doubt.

Equally worryingly, Ponting's deputy has been only marginally better, with Clarke averaging 22.50 for the series.

Hussey poked a catch to Prior off the bowling of Anderson just before lunch.

The 21-year-old Steve Smith continued to look unsuited to toughing it out in bowler-friendly conditions, lunging forward to be caught behind off Anderson for six.

Clarke, the apparent captain-in-waiting, fell four overs later at 6-77 - just when Australia needed him to produce a big "captain's" knock.

Brad Haddin (5) hit an extravagant drive to slip off Bresnan and Mitchell Johnson was caught behind off Anderson for a duck.

The series is level at one-all and Australia need to win the five-match contest to regain the Ashes.

Yet it seemed only a wash-out would save the home side from a big defeat in Melbourne.

England 1st innings

Andrew Strauss not out 64
Alastair Cook not out 80

Extras: (10b, 1w, 2nd) 13
TOTAL: (without loss) 157

AUSTRALIA

Shane Watson c Pietersen b Tremlett 5
Phil Hughes c Pietersen b Bresnan 16
Ricky Ponting c Swann b Tremlett 10
Michael Clarke c Prior b Anderson 20
Michael Hussey c Prior b Anderson 8
Steven Smith c Prior b Anderson 6
Brad Haddin c Strauss b Bresnan 5
Mitchell Johnson c Prior b Anderson 0
Ryan Harris not out 10
Peter Siddle c Prior b Tremlett 11
Ben Hilfenhaus c Prior b Tremlett 0

Extras: (2lb, 5nb) 7.
TOTAL: (all out) 98.
Batting time: Overs: 42.5.
Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-37, 3-37, 4-58, 5-66, 6-77, 7-77, 8-77, 9-92, 10-98.

Umpires: Aleem Dar, Pakistan, and Tony Hill, New Zealand.
Series: 1-1

- AAP/AP