Australia eye series triumph

England were facing the humiliating prospect of defeat inside three days after Australia left them facing a hopeless battle after the second day of the third Ashes Test at the WACA on Saturday.

Trailing by 271 on the first innings after Australia amassed 456 at more than four-and-a-half runs an over, the depleted touring side staggered to 33 for one at stumps, needing a further 238 to make Australia bat again.

Opener Michael Vaughan, England's only reliable batsmen this series, was not out eight with nightwatchman Richard Dawson also on eight after surviving an appeal for a catch at bat-pad on the final ball of the day.

England, looking increasingly demoralised and directionless during the day, lost Marcus Trescothick for four when the out-of-form Somerset opener gloved a sharply rising ball from express bowler Brett Lee and wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist took the catch leaping to his right.

To make matters even more daunting for the batsmen to come, a couple of deliveries shot through low at the end of the day.

MISERABLE DAY

Trescothick's dismissal ended a miserable day for Nasser Hussain's side, who also lost the first two Tests heavily and who now seem doomed to lose an eighth Ashes series in a row.

Their already slim hopes were made even more difficult with the loss of fast bowler Chris Silverwood, ruled out of the rest of the match after tearing his ankle ligaments fielding on the first day.

With England a bowler short -- they also went into the game with four other first-choice bowlers out injured as well as all rounder Andrew Flintoff and batsman John Crawley -- Australia's batsmen went on a run-scoring spree, smashing 69 boundaries and five sixes to make a mockery of England's first innings total of 185.

Damien Martyn (71), Ricky Ponting (68) and Steve Waugh (53) all completed half-centuries. Waugh joined Don Bradman, Allan Border and Gary Sobers as the only batsmen to make 3,000 Test runs against England.

Every other Australian player, with the exception of number 11 Glenn McGrath, reached double figures to expose England's lack of bowling depth and tactics as they regularly dropped the ball short and wide.

WHITE CONSOLATION

All rounder Craig White finished with five for 127 to claim the third five-wicket haul of his career and his first against Australia but none of the English bowlers were able to apply any sustained pressure.

Australia had resumed on 126 for two with Ponting on 43 and Martyn on 20 and were already in front before lunch, overtaking England in the 42nd over.

They extended their lead to 161 by tea after Darren Lehmann (42) and Gilchrist (38) piled on the runs then stretched it beyond 250 when Shane Warne (35), Lee (41) and Jason Gillespie (27) continued the run-fest.

England, who had two confident appeals against Ponting and Lehmann turned down, woke to the depressing news that Silverwood had joined their lengthening casualty list after a san on his left ankle.

The Yorkshire paceman said: "To say I'm frustrated is a massive understatement. I've waited a long time to get back into the Test side and really wanted to make an impact in this game.

"I just felt something go in the ankle on impact in the second ball of my second over. I decided to stay on but the pain just got worse."

Mail Cricket Editor