If Australia win at The Oval it will be a historic Ashes effort. Here is their task

History says it can’t be done, but Australia is already on a path to set a record score and win the fifth Ashes Test.

Usman Khawja and David Warner have put Australia in the unlikely position to win the fifth Ashes test.

History is at hand for Pat Cummins’ side, but it may yet prove hard to grasp.

Australia has to defy 121 years of cricket at The Oval to win the Test match and become the first side in 22 years to win an Ashes series in England.

The good news is they are already well on their way, but do not underestimate the task at hand.

England set them 384 runs to win which seems impossible given the highest successful run chase at the ground is 263, set by the home side in the 1902 Ashes.

Usman Khawaja (69no) and David Warner (58no) have, however, reduced the margin to a more manageable 249 runs.

Their century stand is the first by either side in the series and the first by Australia in England since Warner and Chris Rogers added 110 at The Oval in 2015.

If Warner and Khawaja go on, this team will do what sides captained by Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Tim Paine could not.

Joe Root of and Usman Khawaja clash during day four of the final test at The Oval.

They begin anew on the fifth day of what has been one of the most exciting Ashes series in recent memory, rivalling the 2005 clash which saw England ambush Australia and hang on to a 2-1 series lead with a dimly lit draw at The Oval.

Khawaja is the series leading run scorer, celebrating a second life in Ashes contests after he thought his career had ended when dropped in the corresponding series in 2009.

He brought up his 5000th Test run before the rain came.

Warner is looking for a fairy tale finish in a country where he has never scored a Test hundred and one where he averaged single figures in 2019.

England, having come back from a 2-0 position after the first two Tests have the momentum after winning the third and being robbed of the fourth by Manchester weather.

This game goes to the wire courtesy of rain on the fourth day. There is more predicted by enough play should be available for a result.

England’s bowlers looked tired on the fourth day as Australia’s did on the third.

The wicket is playing well and side’s have scored as much if not more to win.

Seven teams have recorded scores of 384 or more to win a Test match.

The West Indies made 418 at Antigua to beat the Australians in 2003.

The South Africans 414 at the WACA to beat the Australians in 2008.

Australia’s highest fourth innings chase is 404 against England at Headingley back in 1948.

The Australians are confident they can make history. The pitch played as well on the fourth day as it did in the entire match.

Batting coach Michael Di Venuto was positive after play.

“The game is in a great position, isn’t it?” he said. “We’re still pretty positive about the job we’ve got to do. They’ve had a good start with the bat, and seen off the new ball. But in the course of the four innings so far, the new ball seems to be the best time to bat.

“It definitely slows down, gets harder to score, and the ball seems to grip a little bit off the pitch as the ball gets a little bit older. A couple of early ones in the morning and suddenly we’re right back on and right in the mix again.”