Ashes 2013-14: Australia on course for a series whitewash as Chris Rogers century helps them to 4-0 series lead

After comprehensive eight-wicket victory over England in Melbourne, focus now turns to final Test in Sydney starting on 3 January

Alastair Cook of England in the field during the Fourth Ashes Test Match between Australia and England at Melbourne Cricket Ground (Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Chris Rogers scored a century on his home ground to help Australia go 4-0 up in the Ashes series thanks to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over England earlier today

With the urn already lost, the tourists suffered perhaps their worst defeat of the series, as they had been in a dominant position on the third afternoon. Yet their batting collapse thereafter turned the Test on its head and kept Australia on course for a 5-0 whitewash, with the final Test in Sydney starting on 3 January.

Even today, England had their chances, as Australia resumed on 30 without loss, needing 201 more runs to win. Rogers, who plays at the MCG for Victoria, was dropped on 19 by Alastair Cook at first slip off the bowling of Stuart Broad, although wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow should surely have claimed the catch before the ball reached his captain.

Cook had no such excuses shortly afterwards, when David Warner had 22. The opener drove loosely at Ben Stokes and the edge flew straight to Cook, who could not hold on to a regulation chance. It appeared to sum up his state of mind, as well as that of his team.

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England finally managed to strike with the score on 65. Warner tried to steer a short ball from Stokes over the slip cordon, misjudged the stroke and was caught behind for 25.

That brought Shane Watson, a batsman who has been vulnerable in this series, to the crease. He was not so in this innings, however, as he and Rogers set about dismantling a toothless England attack. Between them, Rogers, Warner and Watson added 113 runs in 27 overs before lunch, at a scoring rate of more than four per over.

Cook's tactics raised some eyebrows, as he brought the part-time off-spin of Joe Root into the attack before the slow left-arm of Monty Panesar, while Stuart Broad, England's most dangerous bowler in the series, was under-used.

The pattern remained the same after lunch. Rogers, who played superbly, reached his second Ashes hundred with a cover drive off Jimmy Anderson. Watson was similarly fluent in bringing up a 70-ball half-century and he would finish 85 not out.

Rogers had moved to 116 when he was caught behind off Panesar but by then, the game was long since up. There was still time for Australia captain Michael Clarke to pass 8,000 Test runs before Watson hit the winning runs at 2.26pm local time by drilling Panesar through midwicket for four