- Australia will resume day four on 549-4 with a first-innings lead of 146 runs
- Steve Smith (229*) and Mitchell Marsh (181*) are at the crease and dominating
- England will be desperate for the rain forecast in Perth with hopes slipping away
- Tourists took just one wicket on day three, that of Shaun Marsh for 28 runs
A brutal third day in Perth has left England on the brink of a third straight Ashes defeat, with Steve Smith leading the way for Australia.
The hosts’ captain reached 229 not out on Saturday, giving them a lead of 146 with six first-innings wickets still intact.
Australia will resume on 549-4, and look destined to seal victory and reclaim the Ashes with two Tests to spare.
The third day was a torturous one for England, who took just one wicket – Shaun Marsh for 28 – while his brother Mitchell is 181 not out.
All that leaves England praying for rain in Perth, as they look to salvage an unlikely draw and move to the fourth Test with a tiny chance of drawing the series.
It is forecast to be wet on Sunday and Monday in western Australia, but there is surely no way back for the tourists.
You can follow all the fourth-day action with Sportsmail’s JAMES DUTTON, with PAUL NEWMAN and RICHARD GIBSON providing updates and session reports from Perth.