CRICKET: Just as in  Brisbane, almost to the minute, Australia had the second Test in Adelaide home and hosed on the fourth afternoon. Not even the persistent drizzle which came down in curtains for much of the day was sufficient to lower Steve Waugh's side to the ignominy of a draw, for there were four sessions in hand.

To Glenn McGrath went the coup de grâce, Richard Dawson edging to Adam Gilchrist to spark off their on-field display of team bonding and off-field celebrations. England made only 159 in their second innings, though almost twice the total they had managed at the Gabba, with Michael Vaughan and Alec Stewart adding 70 for the fourth wicket.

As usual, though, the lower order subsided with scarcely a whimper, the last six wickets falling for 45. If England sent in a Ming vase at number seven it would not be any more fragile, and a good deal prettier, than the batsmen who stride out and, not long afterwards, return.

The sides now move to Perth for the third Test starting on Friday, and the whole winter's business could be finalised with two Tests still to go.

Waugh is not shy to the fact that England have always been, and remain capable, of winning a Test here or there against them. But not the three on the bounce now required to win back the Ashes, nor even the two which might gain a share of the series, and most certainly not against this side. As Waugh said: "We will all look back and say that it was a great time to play for Australia. I am proud of the way we play."

At risk of repetition, it simply has to be stressed England's loss, and the margin, does not diminish the stature of the side relative to the other Test nations. Every one else is playing for second place.

Nasser Hussain is correct when he says that in losing to the Australians, there is no disgrace unless any individual can look at his performance and say he has not given it his best shot. He insists it is not just mental: "If it is just a question of psychology," he said, "then they have a stranglehold on world cricket and everyone else might as well pack their coffins and go home."

Of course it is mental to a degree: Australia know they are the best and so do England. And Australia know they know.

But still it is up to everyone, batsmen and bowlers, to recognise the standards set by Ricky Ponting or Matthew Hayden, McGrath or Jason Gillespie and work towards them. Shane Warne cannot be emulated.

Waugh bridles at the constant belittling of his opponents, because it removes the focus on just how good his side are. In Vaughan, for example, he sees a player of genuine world-class.

But Australia's record at home, since England last were here and won in Melbourne in 1998, is one of dominance matched surely by no other side in any major international sport. This was their 20th match in Australia since then, 17 of which have been won and three, all against New Zealand and due mostly to the weather, drawn.

"You see," said Waugh, "this side is not about individuals. Sport is unpredictable, and that's why we play it. But we enjoy our success so much, and when we are up against it our opponents know they are up against 11 players. We are all in this together."

He cited Andy Bichel. Here is an enthusiastic cricketer, a bit of a competitor but, by their standards, average. Yet place such a cricketer into the Australian team environment and he grows in stature.

So it was Bichel, rather than McGrath, who in bowling Vaughan in the last over of the first day, struck the single most important blow of the match, and he, rather than Gillespie, who stuck the knife in at the close on Saturday by bowling Hussain in similar circumstances. But place Bichel in the England side and he would, in all probability, shrink.

But if there was one glaring difference between the sides it came yesterday, when Stewart and Vaughan were playing so well together. Vaughan decided to sweep Warne and did so firmly but in the air to deep square-leg.

McGrath, in the middle of a spell, might have been grazing, thinking about his bowling. Instead, he made 15 yards to his left, took off and clasped the catch inches from the ground. There cannot have been a more stunning outfield catch in all Test cricket.

"A miracle," said Waugh. But it was not really; it was a great competitor doing what he does. Australia's captain and his side may not have expected him to catch it, but McGrath did so. Hoggard? Caddick? Harmison? In the middle of a bowling spell? And there, in a nutshell, lies the difference.

SCOREBOARD

England first innings 342 (M Vaughan 177, N Hussain 47; J Gillespie 4-78, Warne 4-93)

Australia first innings 552 for 9 dec (R Ponting 154, D Martyn 95, A Gilchrist 54; C White 4-106)

ENGLAND - Second innings

(36 for 3 overnight)

M Trescothick lbw b Gillespie 0

M Vaughan c McGrath b Warne 41

M Butcher lbw b McGrath 4

N Hussain b Bichel 10

R Key c Lehmann b Bichel 1

A Stewart lbw b Warne 57

C White c Lee (sub) b McGrath 5

R Dawson c Gilchrist b McGrath 19

M Hoggard b McGrath 1

S Harmison lbw b Warne 0

A Caddick not out 6

Extras (b3, lb4, nb8) 15

Total 159

Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-17, 3-36, 4-40, 5-114, 6-130, 7-130, 8-132, 9-134

Bowling: McGrath 17.2-6-41-4 (4nb), Gillespie 12-1-44-1, Warne 25-7-36-3 (4nb), Bichel 5-0-31-2 Overs 59.2

Australia won by an innings and 51 runs

Australia lead series 2-0

Man-of-the-match: Ricky Ponting (Aus)

Umpires: S Bucknor (WIs) R Koertzen (Rsa)