ENGLAND'S cricketers were on the brink of one of the greatest sporting moments in the nation's history last night, thanks to some inspired bowling and some dreary English weather.

After a dramatic morning in which eight Australian wickets tumbled, bad light settled over the Oval, in south London, during the afternoon and play was abandoned.

England need only to avoid defeat in the Fifth Test to win the Ashes for the first time in 18 years, but for all their strong position, today's final day promises plenty of nerve-wracking moments.

For all the truncated nature of yesterday's play, it was yet another remarkable day in a series full of twists and turns.

The day started well for England, bowling at the Aussies, who started 96 behind with eight wickets standing.

Andrew Flintoff and Yorkshire's Matthew Hoggard skittled out the Aussies to secure an unlikely six-run lead for England.

There was just time for England to lose their first wicket as they batted again before bad light descended, leaving the home team 40 runs ahead.

The desperation of England fans to win the Ashes was shown when they cheered the umpires as they took the players off for bad light.

But good humour was shown all round. At one point, Australian fans took their shirts off, indicating a day that was much sunnier than the gloomy reality, as England supporters, hoping for rain, raised umbrellas.

And emerging onto the field again after the first break for bad light, the Aussie cricketers wore sunglasses in a sardonic dig at the English weather.

Another theme of the day was the respect between the two teams that has characterised the series.

On Saturday, Andrew Flintoff congratulated Australian batsman Matthew Hayden when he reached his century. Yesterday, the Aussie congratulated Flintoff on securing his wicket.

Bookmaker William Hill makes England 1/12 to regain the Ashes, while Australia are 6/1 to pull off the win they need to frustrate Michael Vaughan's men.