Josh Hazlewood has produced one of the most important spells of his career to ignite a late collapse and reduce England to 200/5 at stumps on day three of the fourth Ashes test.
Criticised for his tactics during Steve Smith's double-ton that allowed Tim Paine to declare at 497/8 on day two, Joe Root responded by weathering painful blows to the box and knee in a resolute captain's knock of 71.
Rory Burns also dug in during a knock of 81, sharing a 141-run stand with his captain to frustrate Paine, with the help of some morning rain that washed out the day's opening session.
Hazlewood snapped the partnership in sublime style, removing both set batsmen in the space of 11 deliveries en route to figures of 4/48.
Burns was out edging to a ball on an awkward length, while Root was pinned deep in the crease and flashed a disconsolate look that confirmed he was plumb leg before wicket, even before the umpire's finger was up.
Jason Roy lasted 33 balls, before his middle stump was knocked over by a sensational delivery from Hazlewood that nipped in and sailed past the out-of-form batsman's defences.
The Australian needed three deliveries at Overton on day three to dismiss the nightwatchman, reducing the hosts to 25/2.
Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow negotiated some tense moments, until umpires stopped play because of bad light then pulled stumps soon after.
Content to operate with spin from both ends, Paine had a long chat with both umpires after the decision.
The captain had a testing stint in the field, desperately burning one of his two reviews on a Pat Cummins lbw shout, when Root was on 58.
Paine has now failed to overturn a single on-field decision with 10 referrals this series.
Root wasn't always convincing, but he successfully dented Australia's momentum, as half-chances went begging and the ball repeatedly fell safe.
Root's box was cracked by a searing delivery from Mitchell Starc, conjuring memories of David Lloyd retiring hurt at the WACA in 1974, after Jeff Thomson smashed the piece of plastic protecting his groin.
Root's discomfort was not nearly as serious, although there was a long delay, as he regained composure and a new box was rushed out to the middle.
Unfortunately for Starc, recalled for his first test of the series, it was the most dangerous delivery he bowled, while struggling to build dot-ball pressure on a pitch that offered little assistance for bowlers.
AAP
