Australia's second-innings curse struck again in Melbourne on Monday before it won the fourth Ashes Test by five wickets.

Adam Gilchrist cut English paceman Steve Harmison for four to take Australia to 5-107 and give the home side a 4-0 lead in the best-of-five series.

Gilchrist finished on 10 and Martin Love was unbeaten on six, while opener Justin Langer was man of the match for his first-innings 250.

Australia has become notorious in the last two decades for struggling to win matches when chasing a low total.

Harmison and fellow opening bowler Andy Caddick certainly put the pressure on Australia, although the English let themselves down today with 22 sundries - including eight byes and nine no-balls.

Caddick snared 3-51 and Harmison finished with 2-48, while Ricky Ponting top-scored with 30.

Harmison's seventh over to Waugh was surely one of the most extraordinary in Test history.

After starting the over with an inside edge for four, Waugh clearly edged Harmison to wicketkeeper James Foster.

Inexplicably, neither Foster nor first slip Marcus Trescothick appealed at first, despite an obvious deviation of the ball from the bat.

Foster and other fielders eventually appealed as Harmison returned to the top of his run-up, but umpire Dave Orchard gave it not out.

The next ball, Waugh drove to counterpart Nasser Hussain at mid-off, who gleefully took the catch.

He shook his fists in passion, only to turn to Orchard and discover it was a no-ball.

The look on Hussain's face was priceless as he slumped in disbelief.

Waugh was well on the way to the dressing room before he was called back.

The last ball of the over followed, which Waugh blasted for four through mid-off.

The tone of the day was set with the first ball, which opener Matthew Hayden hooked down Alex Tudor's throat at deep backward square leg for one.

England made Australia bat again after scoring 387 yesterday in its second innings.

It followed on after making 270 in reply to Australia's 6 (dec)-551.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP