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Two runouts in the space of six balls reduced Australia to 220 for four on the fourth day of the fifth and final Ashes test at the Oval on Sunday.

Australia, who need at least a draw to retain the Ashes, have been set a world record 546 runs for victory.

* Michael Clarke was out for a duck when he turned Graeme Swann on to the boot of Alastair Cook at short-leg. Andrew Strauss running from first slip picked up the rebound and flicked the ball on to the stumps with Clarke out of his ground. 220/4

* Andrew Flintoff ran out Ricky Ponting for 66 with a brilliant throw from mid-on which hit the stumps at the striker's end with the Australia captain short of his ground. 217/3

* Graeme Swann dismissed Simon Katich lbw for 43 playing no shot then Stuart Broad also won an lbw decision against Shane Watson (40) in the next over during the morning session. 90/2

England batsman Ravi Bopara has vowed to return a better player after being dropped for the Ashes decider against Australia at the Oval.

His place was taken by Jonathan Trott, who marked his Test debut with a century.

'I usually take things on the chin and get on with it,' Bopara was quoted as saying in the Guardain Sunday. 'I am not a massive guy for making too much of a fuss.'

The Essex batsman certainly responded to being dropped in style, hitting a double-century last week in his county's win against Surrey.

'I think when I got to 100 I said to myself I am not getting off this pitch until I come back with 200.'

'That's my way of answering,' said the 24-year-old, who averaged only 15 for England from seven innings against Australia in the first four Tests, batting at No.3.

'I was surprised I went through seven innings without getting a massive score. I did feel as if there was a score around the corner.'

Captain Ricky Ponting completed a half-century as Australia fought back on the fourth day of the fifth Ashes test against England at the Oval on Sunday.

Australia, set a world record 546 to win, were 186 for two with Ponting on 52 and Michael Hussey on 37.

* Graeme Swann dismissed Simon Katich lbw for 43 playing no shot then Stuart Broad also won an lbw decision against Shane Watson (40) in the next over during the morning session. 90/2

Australia battled for survival after losing two wickets in the space of four balls on the fourth morning of the fifth and final Ashes test against England at the Oval on Sunday.

The Australians, who had been set a world record 546 to win on Saturday, reached 171 for two at lunch on a dusting pitch. Australia need at least a draw to retain the Ashes.

Simon Katich and Shane Watson resumed Australia's second innings on 80 for no wicket before a capacity crowd basking in the hot sun.

Katich (43) lasted only 15 minutes before he was lbw to Graeme Swann padding up to a straight delivery from the off-spinner. Watson followed in similar fashion for 40 in the following over from Stuart Broad, shuffling across his stumps to an off-cutter.

Ricky Ponting dug in against the England bowlers with a cluster of close fielders.

He was rapped repeatedly on his pads while Hussey, whose form has been in steady decline, edged a ball from Swann on the full to the boundary through Paul Collingwood's legs at first slip.

Runs came more freely towards the end of the session with Hussey cover-driving Andrew Flintoff to the boundary and Ponting taking two leg-side boundaries off Swann.

At the interval the Australian captain had scored 44 while Hussey was on 31.