A miracle is required.

Attempting to defy 126 years of Test history by making 452 runs to beat England at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Australia was stopped in its tracks by an immediate batting collapse late on the fourth day of a mesmerising Ashes battle.

Set the potentially record-breaking run chase on a difficult - but not impossible - pitch, Australia was 3-91 at stumps with Matthew Hayden (two), Justin Langer (three) and Ricky Ponting (11) already back in the pavilion.

On Monday, Australia needs 361 off a minimum of 90 overs.

Langer received a blatantly incorrect LBW verdict before Hayden and Ponting were also trapped in front.

Langer hurled his bat in anger against the dressing room lockers while Hayden responded by slamming the dressing room door so hard that its glass shattered.

If captain Steve Waugh's timeless century on Friday defined his career, the final innings of this fifth Ashes Test has the ability to define his team.

Waugh's side is great but is it the greatest? After a world record 17 straight Test wins from 1999 to 2001, pulling off an unprecedented run chase would give it a genuine claim.

"We'll give it a red-hot go," vice-captain Adam Gilchrist had vowed.

Australia required more than four runs an over from a minimum of 110 when Langer and Hayden set sail at 5.09pm. Disaster struck immediately. Langer's dismissal by Hoggard was from a ball pitching outside leg stump, and he tossed his head back in disbelief when umpire Russell Tiffin raised his finger.

Hayden, batting out of his crease, pushed even further forward and the ball struck him knee-high. Umpire Dave Orchard sent him packing and Hayden - chewing gum, shaking his head, giving Orchard a cold glare - walked off before venting his frustration on the door.

Waugh sat nearby.

Australia was 2-5, then 3-25.

Resuming Monday morning will be Damien Martyn on 19 and nightwatchman Andy Bichel on 49.

Maybe - just maybe - history beckons.

The highest successful fourth-innings totals since the first ever Test in 1877 have both been in pursuit of 403. Sir Donald Bradman's 'Invincibles' made 3-404 to beat England at Headingley in 1948 and India reached 4-407 against the might of the West Indies at Port of Spain, Trinidad, in 1975-76.

Steve Waugh's men want to stand alongside the giants of the grand old game and this is their chance to end all arguments.

Their best fourth-innings haul to win a Test is 6-369 against Pakistan at Hobart in 1999-2000 when Langer and Gilchrist made centuries.

The SCG is a notoriously tough place to bat last. The highest successful last innings total was way back in 1898 when Australia reached 4-276 to down the old enemy.

Earlier, England's prolific opener Michael Vaughan (183) and lion-hearted captain Nasser Hussain (72) defied Australia's bowling attack - sorely missing Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne - in a committed 189-run partnership.

The pair drove powerfully, took blows to the body, defended stoically and attacked when opportunities arose.

Vaughan stood tall, literally and figuratively, hitting 27 fours and a six in his third century of the series. Revered English openers such as Jack Hobbs, Herbert Sutcliffe and Walter Hammond have also achieved the feat.

Vaughan fell to another dubious umpiring decision after 399 minutes of occupation, shuffling on the crease and being given LBW to a ball from Bichel that appeared to be too high. Tiffin was the umpire.

Vaughan had enough energy to hold his bat in the air for the duration of his long walk back to the pavilion. He received warm and deserved applause.

Australia was clearly rattled by the end of England's 530-minute second innings of 9(dec)-452.

When an appeal for a catch behind from No.11 Steve Harmison was rejected, the unthinkable happened - Gilchrist swore.

Hussain put the Australian bowlers out of their misery at 4.57pm, giving the batsmen their shot at history, but by 6.44pm hope was almost lost.

Almost.

Next man in is Waugh.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP