Nasser Hussain has admitted to enjoying the final day of the fourth Ashes Test despite England again losing to Australia.

England went four-nil down in the series after Australia won by five wickets to keep their hopes of a whitewash alive.

But chasing the meagre target of 107 was far from easy, with England raising their game to trouble Australia all the way.

"That was about as enjoyable as we've had it on the field this winter," the England captain said.

Harmison bowled with gusto all morning

"We still lost the Test match but it was a very enjoyable couple of hours of cricket."

England strike bowlers Steve Harmison and Andy Caddick bowled with rare zest as England entertained thoughts of an unlikely win.

"They are pleased because they've got wickets under their belt which hasn't been an easy thing in Australia.

"If they had bowled 11 overs and not got a wicket they would have been very disappointed but wickets cheer you up."

Harmison, in particular, was impressive and was unlucky not to get more than two wickets with Australia captain Steve Waugh 'cheating death' twice in one over.

Survived

Waugh edged behind to wicket-keeper James Foster but survived when nobody appealed, and next ball was caught by Hussain off a no-ball.

Hussain said the deafening chants of the pro-England crowd may have led to fielders not hearing Waugh's edge.

England will take quite a lot out of this match and I think Sydney will be quite a close contest Steve Waugh Australia captain

"I couldn't believe it because the crowd have made so much noise all Test and when Harmison was running in the noise was incredible.

"Foster obviously heard something but no-one else heard anything but there was an obvious glove.

"I don't think the umpire would have given it anyway because we couldn't hear a noise with all the noise that the crowd was making."

Up against it

Hussain said England would have to work on upsetting Australia's awesome opening pair of Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer if they were to win in the Sydney Test starting on Thursday.

"The only thing we've got to work out is their opening partnership," Hussain asserted.

Waugh was worked over by an array of short balls

"We showed today that if we can get through their openers we can get them out but when they get 250 and 100 respectively you're up against it.

"We've got to try to turn things around and get that early wicket."

Waugh said he had feared England were in with a chance as Aussie wickets continued to fall.

"England bowed very well this morning and we had to work hard for the runs and that's what Test cricket is all about," Waugh said.

England had nothing to lose and they came at us hard.

"Perhaps we thought about the end result too much but we tried to go out there and play our shots.

"But losing a wicket first ball puts you on edge a bit and England were in with a bit of a chance at the end."