THE END IS NIGH FOR ENGLAND

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Strauss gets the message from Brett Lee.

By Andrew Ramsey

If there was any doubt about Australia's determination to blitz this Ashes series 5-0, it was summarily erased when Ricky Ponting's men took the field for the start of England's second innings on Thursday.

The Australians' intent was almost palpable as they charged down the SCG's historic players' walkway and surged towards the pitch to begin an assault on the tourists' batting.

Their mindset reflected the irresistible shift that had transformed the match in the previous two hours.

By rights, it should have been England that had a spring in its step and a metaphorical breeze at its back as it set about setting up the last Test of the series.

Charged with the responsibility of claiming quick Australian wickets on the third morning in order to establish any sort of a first innings lead, the English bowlers fulfilled the first part of their charter.

They could not have wished for more than to remove the notoriously steadfast Michael Hussey without him adding to his overnight score.

And even though he remained in situ for a further hour and 20 minutes in the morning session, Andrew Symonds was not the rampaging run maker he can be and England's lead was still 31 when he departed.

And that's when it all went horribly, predictably wrong.

Rather than retreat into their shells and attempt to edge close to England's target as Andrew Flintoff's team would have undoubtedly done if the situation was reversed, the Australians launched another stunning counter attack.

Adam Gilchrist flayed the ball to all corners as only he can. Shane Warne was 10 not out after two balls faced. Even Stuart Clark took to scoring at around a run per ball.

The sense of sheer incredulity and resignation among England's bowlers and fielders was almost visible.

Shoulders slumped, frustrations bubbled over. And the deficit that should have barely existed - if at all - blew out to beyond 100.

The Australians knew they had sat the tourists on their bums against the run of the game, and they were not about to let the moment slip when they took the new ball for the second innings.

Brett Lee ran in with an exuberance that indicated the Australians sensed a chance to wrap up this game inside three days, as had been the case in Melbourne.

Which was why the blow he landed at the base of Andrew Strauss's protective helmet carried far greater significance than to merely shake up the already shellshocked opener.

It sent an unmistakable message to the England rooms that there was even greater purpose in the final stanza of the last Test than there had been at the outset in Brisbane.

England's batsmen duly appeared in a meek procession, as if men consigned to their fate. At least by Friday, their suffering will be over.