Christmas doesn't mean a complete stop in cricket for the Australian and England teams.

Both sides are scheduled to train at the MCG on Christmas Day despite the holiday in the lead-up to the fourth Ashes Test, which starts on Boxing Day.

Australia's players have the option of training before they get together for a Christmas lunch with their families at Crown Casino.

England's players will train in the morning before they have lunch together at a Melbourne restaurant.

A capacity crowd is expected on day one of the Test, the penultimate match for Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath who retire after the fifth Test at the SCG.

Australia is also aiming to become only the second team to win a five-match Ashes series 5-0. Warwick Armstrong's Australian team did so in the summer of 1920-21.

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