England started this final match of the series with the Ashes in the bag, and aspirations of a fourth Test victory over Australia in a home summer for the first time.
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Retiring Australia captain Michael Clarke said the fifth and final Ashes Test against England could be over in three days, and admitted the odds were stacked against his team.
But there was no denying Australia’s dominance with both bat and ball so far in this match after captain-in-waiting Steven Smith had scored 143 earlier on Friday.
Alastair Cook was bowled by a beauty from Nathan Lyon (2-32) with the last ball before the tea interval, and then watched on as his England side suffered an embarrassing collapse in the evening session.
Otherwise, with England eight wickets down and 374 runs behind, there were few positives to pick out from the mess, apart from the obvious one that they have already won the series and so in a sense the result does not matter all that much.
“That’s the best we’ve bowled all series”, said Smith, who will take over as captain when incumbent Michael Clarke retires after this series.
Smith flashed his first ball after the restart for four but soon gave way to Starc’s care-free hitting.
Smith, on 110 not out, still has the chance of taking Australia to a handsome total but from an overnight score of 287 for three, England will be pleased with their return.
“We have 12 wickets to score as many runs as we can and tomorrow, whether we bowl again or bat again, we have to do it with a determination to succeed”.
“That’s the best we’ve bowled all series, we created pressure and made them earn their runs”.
Australia were 82 without loss at lunch, with Rogers – in his last Test before retirement – 27 not out and fellow left-handed opener Warner 53 not out.
Wicketkeeper Jos Buttler gleefully accepted the edge, but replays showed Finn clearly overstepped.
Smith received good support in stands of 146 and 91 from Voges (76) and Starc (58) for the fourth and eighth wickets respectively.
Finn squared Peter Siddle up with a fine ball on an awkward length to snare his third wicket and wrap up the innings.
Stokes admitted the pitch did not play the way they thought it might, but was nevertheless pleased with England’s efforts and believes they did not get the rewards they might have on another day.
Smith was therefore reprieved en route to his second hundred in as many appearances on this ground, where he reached three figures for the first time in his Test career two years ago.
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First Peter Nevill gloved one down the leg-side and was smartly caught by Buttler, then Johnson was castled by a delivery that was too good for his half-hearted defence.
