Melbourne's magic rubs off on cricket's famous fixture

1982 – Fourth Ashes Test, England won the match by three runs

Regarded as one of the greatest Ashes Tests of all time, Australia threatened to pull off the most unlikely of wins following a 70-run stand between last-pair Allan Border and Jeff Thomson.

Chasing 292 for victory the pair saw the hosts through the fourth evening to leave them needing 37 on the final day.

With an expectant crowd turning up Australia edged closer and closer to victory before Sir Ian Botham finally struck to secure victory for England.

Thomson poked an edge to second slip where Chris Tavare initially spilt the chance only for Geoff Miller to somehow leap forward and make enough ground to pull off a remarkable catch from the rebound.

1977 – Centenary Test, Australia won the match by 45 runs

The Test was played to celebrate 100 years of Test cricket and not only did it produce the same result as the first-ever match, but also one of the most pulsating contests between Australia and England.

After Australia managed just 138 batting first, the hosts somehow earned a first-innings lead when Dennis Lillee's 6-26 helped skittle England for a very disappointing 95.

The bat dominated thereafter with Australia setting England a victory chase of 441 – a target they looked like overhauling as they reached 346-4 on the back of Derek Randall's patient but impressive 174.

But Randall's dismissal prompted a collapse, inspired again by the awesome talent of Lillee, before the fitting history of the final margin.

1986 – Fourth Ashes Test, England won the match by an innings and 14 runs

England secured their most recent Ashes series win Down Under with a dominant performance.

Australia never recovered after Ian Botham and Gladstone Small took five wickets apiece to bowl them out for 141 in their first innings.

Chris Broad then hit a century in England's 349 before spinners John Embury and Phil Edmonds shared five wickets to bowl England to a series-clinching win.

The victory sparked scenes of celebration among the England squad as they secured the famous urn on Australian soil with one Test still remaining.

They would lose the final Test but won the series 2-1 and Mike Gatting's side remain the last English touring side to win Down Under.

1937 – Third Ashes Test, Australia won the match by 365 runs.

In his first series in charge, Sir Donald Bradman's produced a captaincy masterstroke when he reversed his batting order in the second innings to cope with a wet and uncovered wicket.

The Australia 'tail' stalled the match long enough to let the pitch dry out before Bradman hit 270, in a total of 564, after coming in at seven as Australia eventually won the timeless Test on the sixth day.

1998 – Fourth Test, England won by 12 runs.

England's most recent win at the MCG was earned thanks to Dean Headley's career-best figures of 6-60 and five first innings wickets from Darren Gough, pictured inset below.

With the Ashes already lost, England looked set for further humiliation as the Aussies coasted towards a victory target of just 175. Headley, though, ripped through the lower order as Australia lost seven for 32, with four of their last five batsman out for ducks, to fall just short.