Ricky Ponting proved an unlikely ally in England’s bid to reach the Commonwealth Bank Series final with a magnificent century as Australia beat New Zealand by five wickets in Melbourne.

James Franklin removed both openers as New Zealand kept the pressure on Australia in their Commonwealth Bank Series clash in Melbourne.

Damien Martyn, Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz paid the price for Australia’s Ashes failure Tuesday when they were axed from the Test squad to face a World XI next month.

BRETT LEE took two late wickets to remove some of the shine from England captain Michael Vaughan’s 166, the first century of this Ashes series, on the first day of the third Test at Old Trafford yesterday.