Australia may have regained the Ashes but Steve Smith’s side will be going all-out to win the fourth Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
After a crushing victory in Perth gave Australia an unassailable 3-0 lead, Smith told the BBC he would “love” to whitewash England 5-0 in the Ashes series.
Smith, who scored 239 in the Perth Test at the Waca, said: “We’d love to win 5-0. Right now I’m just really satisfied with what we’ve achieved in these first three Tests. It’s been remarkable.
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“It’s been an amazing couple of weeks, I’ve really enjoyed every moment of it. We put in so much hard work. To know that everything has worked out and we’ve got that urn back, all the emotions came out at once. I’m so happy for the group.”
England have been slammed by Australian media for their performances down under and the pressure is on captain Joe Root and his players to avoid the whitewash.
The Australian newspaper has called Root’s horror Ashes “among the worst”, but with thousands of Barmy Army fans expected in Melbourne, England’s skipper will hope to give them something to cheer about during the tour’s marque Test.
How to watch the Ashes on TV
BT Sport has exclusive rights to the Ashes and will show every ball live from Australia. The broadcaster has announced that Michael Vaughan and Ricky Ponting will join the punditry team alongside Geoffrey Boycott, Adam Gilchrist, Graeme Swann and Damien Fleming.
For radio listeners, BBC Test Match Special will provide ball-by-ball commentary of all Tests on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra and Radio 4 LW.
Ashes 4th Test betting odds
The latest prices according to Oddschecker as of 19 December:
- Australia to win: 1/2
- Draw: 9/2
- England to win: 9/2
- Top Australia batsman: Steve Smith 9/4; David Warner 10/3; Cameron Bancroft 11/2
- Top Australia bowler: Mitchell Starc 11/5; Josh Hazelwood 5/2; Pat Cummins 10/3
- Top England batsman: Joe Root 3/1; Mark Stoneman 9/2; Alastair Cook 5/1
- Top England bowler: James Anderson 9/4; Stuart Broad 10/3; Chris Woakes 7/2
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