The English were already two down in the series by the time for the third Test match, a Boxing Day affair at the MCG, Melbourne.
England were put into bat after losing the toss, and fought their way to 244, despite Jeff Thomson taking 4-72, Alan Knott with a defiant 52. And, for the first time in the series, Australia were pegged back, Bob Willis taking 5-61 as they were restricted to 243.
England repeated their first-innings effort, scoring 244 again, Tony Greig top-scoring with 60 as Thomson and Ashley Mallett took four wickets apiece.
Set 246, Australia had to settle for a draw, falling just eight runs short, although they only had two wickets in hand, when the draw was declared.
Normal service was resumed as far as Australia were concerned in the fourth Test match, in Sydney.
This time it was they who batted first having won the toss, and 84 from Greg Chappell and 80 from Rick McCosker put them in a strong position. They closed their first innings on 405.
Knott, not for the first time in the series, defied the Australian seam bowlers. He made 82 and stand-in captain John Edrich 50, but another four-wicket haul from Thomson limited England t0 295.
Leading by 110 on first innings, Australia tightened their grip on proceedings. Ian Redpath made a gritty 105 and Greg Chappell 144 as they declared on 289/4.
England needed exactly 400 to win, but they never got near it, although, for once, it was the off-spin of Mallett that did most of the damage. He took 4-21 in just under 17 overs, in a spell that also included 9 maidens, as England were bowled out for 228.
England had lost by 171 runs, and the defeat also meant that both the series and the Ashes had been lost.