Play gets underway in fourth Ashes test

MELBOURNE, Dec 26 (Reuters) Play began half an hour later than scheduled in the fourth Ashes test between Australia and England at the Melbourne Cricket Ground today.

The start was delayed by light rain, but play began once the drizzle stopped and the covers were taken off the centre wicket.

A world record crowd of around 95,000 people was expected to attend the opening day even though Australia have already retained the Ashes by winning the first three tests of the five-match series.

The match has been given added significance by the farewell of Australia's two most prolific bowlers, leg spinner Shane Warne and seamer Glenn McGrath, who will retire from test cricket after next week's final test in Sydney.

Warne, who led the Australian team onto the field, started the match on 699 wickets and is poised to become the first player to capture 700 test victims.

Reuters MQA VP0617