ENGLAND completed a rare win over Australia to prevent an Ashes whitewash and inflict a first home defeat for four years on the hosts.

Final Ashes Test, Sydney. England 362 & 452-9d; Australia 363 & 226 England win by 225 runs Series result: Australia 4-1 England

The tourists wrapped up their win in emphatic style, with Andy Caddick in superb form at the SCG.

Caddick exploited the rapidly deteriorating Sydney surface to finish with figures of seven for 94.

The day dawned with England in the driving-seat but still prone to a fighting counter-attack from the world's finest cricketing outfit.

But the fightback never came as Caddick found the perfect length from the off.

First, he trapped Andy Bichel leg before wicket. The Aussie seamer had done a tremendous job as nightwatchman but was unable to add to his overnight score of 49.

Steve Waugh arrived to the customary standing ovation but was only able to hang around for a quarter of an hour before Caddick bowled him off his bat.

Damien Martyn's patient vigil was finally ended when off-spinner Richard Dawson got in on the act.

Alec Stewart athletically leapt to catch Martyn off inside edge and pad from a delivery that leapt up after pitching.

Steve Harmison was always going to be a handful on a last-day pitch and he soon sent Martin Love back in the pavilion, bowling him off his pads with a ball that kept viciously low.

The final wicket of the morning session came when Adam Gilchrist, who had reached 37 off just 27 balls, gloved a Caddick deliver to second slip.

Brett Lee swung the bat well for a few overs after lunch to reach 46.

But when Caddick finally had him caught off the gloves, he followed up by bowling Stuart MacGill in the same over.