Johnson puts Australia in control

Mitchell smashed through England's top order then cleaned up the tail to finish with 6-38 in a brilliant return after he was dropped for the second Test in Adelaide following a wayward, wicketless display in the opener in Brisbane [ Images ].

The 29-year-old Queenslander's efforts sent Australia in to bat with an 81-run lead, but England's seamers hit back with three wickets after tea to leave Australia 119-3 at stumps.

Steve Finn removed Phillip Hughes for 12, coaxing a nick from the 22-year-old opener that went straight to Paul Collingwood's [ Images ] safe hands at third slip.

The young paceman then had Ricky Ponting [ Images ] caught behind for one, the struggling Australian captain feathering a catch off his glove to wicketkeeper Matt Prior [ Images ].

Ponting, who has not surpassed 12 runs in his past four innings, was given not out, but England successfully appealed the decision to ensure the embattled 35-year-old receives another harsh reception in Saturday's newspapers.

Michael Clarke [ Images ] smashed four boundaries in an aggressive 20-run cameo but undone himself by chasing a Chris Tremlett delivery onto his stumps as Australia wobbled on 64-3.

Clarke's dismissal brought the hosts' serial rescuer Mike Hussey [ Images ] to the crease and the 35-year-old left-hander proved rock-solid again, adding an unbeaten 24 in a 55-run stand with opener Shane Watson [ Images ] (61 not out) to see Australia to a 200-run lead at stumps.

Trailing 1-0 in the five-Test series and harangued by a hostile local media after being bowled out for 268 on Thursday, Australia have seven wickets in hand and every hope of building a match-winning total on day three.

Much of the credit will go to their enigmatic paceman Johnson, who ignited the Australian attack in the morning session with a fierce spell of swing bowling.

After England raced to 78 without loss, Johnson caused Alastair Cook [ Images ] to miscue a drive straight to Hussey at gully, then trapped Jonathan Trott for four and Kevin Pietersen [ Images ] lbw for a duck.

Johnson grabbed his third lbw by dismissing Collingwood for five then celebrated his fifth and sixth wickets by bowling pacemen Tremlett for two and having James Anderson [ Images ] caught for a duck.

Johnson's withering spell had his fellow seamers bouncing and paceman Ryan Harris finished with 3-59 after dismissing England captain Andrew Strauss [ Images ] for 52, Ian Bell [ Images ] (53) and spinner Swann for 11.

Peter Siddle [ Images ] toiled in a fruitless morning session but was rewarded after lunch with a wicket when he bowled Prior for 12.

Australia are battling to level the five-Test series and prevent the tourists from becoming the first English team to take the Ashes home in 24 years.