The second Ashes Test is headed for an interesting end after Australia ended Day 2 on 119 for 3 at the WACA in Perth on Friday.

-Scorecard

At close of play Australia took a 200-run lead after Mitchell Johnson ripped through the English batting line-up earlier in the day.

Johnson blitzed England's top order, clinching four wickets in a fiery five-over burst that saw England limp to lunch at 119-5 after openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook compiled a nippy 78-run stand.

Australia's pacemen skittled England's last five wickets for 42 runs to dismiss the hosts for 187.

Mitchell Johnson dismissed tail-enders Chris Tremlett for two and James Anderson for a duck in quick session to finish with 6-38 in a brilliant return to the side after being dropped for the Adelaide Test following his expensive wicketless performance in the opener in Brisbane.

England spinner Graeme Swann added a useful 11 in a 36-run stand with Ian Bell but jabbed speculatively at a Ryan Harris delivery that straightened before glancing the bat on the way through to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

Bell had earlier continued his fine series with the bat, notching his third half-century by cutting a poor Harris delivery to the boundary for four.

But Bell (53) will rue the manner of his dismissal after chasing a full, wide delivery from Harris, with the miscued drive flying straight to Australia captain Ricky Ponting in the slips.

Paceman Peter Siddle was finally rewarded after a fruitless morning of toil by bowling wicketkeeper Matt Prior for 12 shortly after lunch to leave England flailing at 145-6.

The full-hearted 26-year-old struck Prior on the shoulder in a fiery over, then flung another that hit the wicketkeeper's body and bounced once on the pitch before knocking off the leg bail.

The wicket broke a 47-run stand between Prior and Bell.

England paceman Steve Finn and Chris Tremlett struck back for England by removing Phillip Hughes for 12, Ricky Ponting for one and Michael Clarke in their second innings.

The struggling Australian captain feathered a catch off his glove to wicketkeeper Matt Prior.

England appealed for a review after Ponting was given not out and celebrated after the TV replay showed he had touched the ball.

Finn earlier continued Hughes's struggles, coaxing a nick from the 22-year-old opener that went straight to Paul Collingwood's safe hands at third slip.

Australia earlier bowled England out for 187 to take an 81-run lead at the WACA ground but will need to survive another hour's play to stumps.