Warne tops 700

Shane Warne acknowledges his home crowd upon capturing his 700th wicket © Getty Images

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Shane Warne became the first bowler in history to take 700 Test wickets as Australia assumed command of the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne.

The leg-spinner claimed 5-39 on a remarkable first day in front of his home crowd to undermine England's hopes of restoring some pride in the series.

Warne struck with his 20th ball to claim his landmark victim, and finished with the 37th five-wicket haul of his Test career as England were bowled out for a meagre 159.

Australia reached 48 for two by the close, Andrew Flintoff taking two wickets in two balls to give England a boost.

The England captain had Justin Langer and nightwatchman Brett Lee caught by Chris Read off outside edges as Australia ended the day 111 behind.

Warne entered his final Test at his beloved MCG knowing he needed only one more wicket to reach the incredible milestone, and his chances of doing so on Boxing Day were lifted when Flintoff won the toss and chose to bat.

England found the early going difficult, with Glenn McGrath - also playing his final Test in Melbourne - swinging and seaming the ball consistently.

It took England 16 deliveries before they recorded their first run, Andrew Strauss clipping Lee down to fine leg for a single, and another four overs before they played their first aggressive shot of the innings, Alastair Cook pulling Lee for three over a wet outfield.

But, just as the tourists appeared to have weathered the worst, Cook edged a full-length Lee delivery behind as he attempted to withdraw his bat.

Warne embarks on a lap of honour after reaching the milestone © Getty Images

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England had been given one slight reprieve in Lee's previous over, Strauss edging just short of Ricky Ponting at second slip.

Ian Bell was also fortunate to survive before lunch when he pushed his first delivery from Lee to cover, set off for a quick single and saw Michael Clarke's throw miss the stumps at the non-striker's end.

But Bell was undone by Stuart Clark less than half an hour after lunch when he got stuck on the crease to a ball that nipped back and hit him in front of middle stump.

Paul Collingwood was given the benefit of the doubt by umpire Rudi Koertzen as Clark appealed for lbw before he had scored, then edged McGrath behind after another stoppage for rain, only for wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist, diving to his right, to miss the chance.

Strauss reached his first half-century of the series as he and Collingwood battled it out in conditions more common in England, taking the tourists to the three-figure mark in the 45th over.

It also saw Strauss reach 1,000 Test runs in the calendar year, joining team-mates Bell, Collingwood and Kevin Pietersen in doing so.

But his partnership with Collingwood did not last much longer as the latter edged Lee to a Ponting at second slip, the first of eight wickets to fall for 58.

Andrew Strauss hits a rare boundary on his way to 50

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Warne was brought into the attack in the 41st over and got his reward when he bowled Strauss, driving, through the gate as his home crowd erupted.

It was also the leg-spinner's 50th wicket at the MCG and he lapped up the applause from his fellow Victorians, who rose as one to cheer their favourite son.

He gave them something else to cheer about when he caught Flintoff off Clark for 13, and Read - recalled to the side in place of Geraint Jones - fell victim to Warne as he drove to Ponting at short extra-cover for six.

McGrath, who went wicketless for the first two sessions, finally got the breakthrough he wanted when he enticed Sajid Mahmood into edging to Gilchrist.

Steve Harmison was promoted up the order ahead of Matthew Hoggard but lasted just 12 deliveries before giving Clarke a catch and Warne his 702nd wicket.

Kevin Pietersen was next to fall, skying Warne to a running Andrew Symonds at long-off, and, though Hoggard brought up England's 150 with a sweep, the damage had been done.

Fittingly, it was Warne, who led Australia on to the field at the start of play, was finished matters off by having Panesar taken at mid-off by Symonds.