McGrath says Australia getting ready to celebrate

PERTH, Dec 17 (Reuters) Fast bowler Glenn McGrath said Australia were getting ready to celebrate regaining the Ashes with just five wickets needed to wrap up the series.

McGrath dismissed defiant opener Alastair Cook then nightwatchman Matthew Hoggard just before stumps today to leave Australia poised to win the third test on the last day on Monday.

England would need to bat through the final day to salvage a draw or pull off a miracle to win after slumping to 265 for five chasing 557 to win.

But McGrath said the Australians were confident of finishing off the tourists on Monday to take an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the five-match series and regain the Ashes they lost last year.

''As soon as that last wicket falls, hopefully at some stage tomorrow, then we can start celebrating and the Ashes will be back home,'' McGrath told a news conference after the fourth day at the WACA.

When stumps were drawn on Sunday night, Kevin Pietersen was unbeaten on 37 with Andrew Flintoff on two with only wicketkeeper Geraint Jones and the bowlers to come.

McGrath said Australia knew they still had their work cut out getting the next two wickets but were confident of polishing off the tail once they made the breakthrough.

''If we can get some early wickets, then hopefully we can wrap it up,'' McGrath said.

Australia's bowlers were forced to work hard on Sunday with Cook making 116 and Ian Bell 87 to stall their push for victory.

The pair batted through the first three and a half hours of the day in a 170-run partnership for the second wicket and it was not until the final session that Australia finally turned the screws.

''I thought he (Cook) batted exceptionally well. He set himself up for a long innings and walked off with a hundred,'' McGrath said.

''He was prepared to do the hard work and wait until we bowled a bad ball before he scored. He really applied himself well.

''And (Ian Bell) has obviously matured a lot and got a lot of confidence in himself after the last 12 months.

''He's come a long way so it's looking good for England in the future.

He said Australia had seen in Adelaide that England could bat for a long innings, especially when the wicket was not too quick.

''So we knew that if they applied themselves and got a couple of good partnerships together it was going to be hard work,'' he said.

''So we just tried to stick at it all day, really keep the pressure on and not let them get too far away from us and we were rewarded with those last two wickets because of that.'' REUTERS PM KP1842