Australia moved closer to an Ashes whitewash with a dominant eight-wicket victory over England with a day to spare in Melbourne.

Led by 116 from opener Chris Rogers and helped by three missed catches, they knocked off the remaining 201 runs they needed by mid-afternoon on a day that became a stroll in the Melbourne sunshine.

England had begun with hope of summoning up the spirit of 1998, when they bowled out Australia for just 162 on this ground to win by 12 runs.

Instead they created little and blew what chances they did have as Australia cruised to the biggest fourth-innings target at this ground in 51 years with Shane Watson hitting an unbeaten 83.