Australia's quicks have presented the tourists with a chance of an unlikely victory in the rain-affected second Ashes test after an absorbing fourth day at Lord's.
After bowling Australia for 250 the hosts were 96/4 at stumps - a lead of just 104 - after Pat Cummins and Peter Siddle ripped through their top order.
Ben Stokes (16) and Jos Buttler (10) were the not out batsman at the close.
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However, the day was overshadowed by an alarming injury to Steve Smith who was smashed in the neck and on the left arm during a menacing spell by Jofra Archer.
Smith didn't field in England's second innings as he underwent X-rays to his arm which showed their was no fracture.
He will also be assessed for concussion for the remainder of the match, but should be able to bat in Australia's second innings.
Once again Smith held together Australia's brittle batting line-up with a courageous 92 as no other player passed 50.
It was during a mesmerising spell midway through the afternoon session that Smith was felled twice by the lightning-fast Archer.
Despite the loss of Matthew Wade (6) and Tim Paine (23) after Australia started the day on 80/4, Smith, ably supported by Cummins (20), held firm against quality bowling from Archer, Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes.
The former skipper was on 70 when he was hit on the left arm and immediately recoiled in pain, with the Australia medical team applying an arm pad to the affected area so he could continue batting.
He'd added 10 more runs to his total when Archer steamed in with a fearsome delivery and in chilling reminder of the death of Phillip Hughes, Smith slumped face down on the pitch after being struck.
England's close-in fielders immediately raced to his aid along with Cummins as hush descended over the ground.
Smith was assessed by team doctor Richard Saw as he underwent Cricket Australia's head injury protocol and led away from the field.
He returned 40 minutes later after Siddle (9) was dismissed by Woakes and added 12 to his total before being trapped lbw by the seamer.
Cummins took two wickets early in the England innings in as many balls to reduce Joe Root's side to 4/2.
The big quick snared the struggling Jason Roy with a diving return catch and then delivered Root the first golden duck of his career.
Siddle, who had Rory Burns (29) dropped by David Warner, then caught and bowled Joe Denly who drove straight back into his grateful hands for 26.
But Victorian veteran Siddle did take the wicket of Burns (29) with a perfect ball that brushed the edge of the unorthodox left-hander's bat and was taken by Paine.
Warner then put down another regulation catch at first slip when Nathan Lyon found the edge of Ben Stokes' bat.
Lyon, who would have dismissed Burns earlier in his innings, had Paine opted to review a not out lbw decision, and he would have snared the wicket of Stokes for three had another not out decision been challenged.
AAP
