England's seamers crashed through Australia's top order early on day one of the third Test in Perth on Thursday, dismissing opening batsman Phillip Hughes, captain Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke within the first eight overs.

Hughes's return to the Australia side lasted six balls, with towering Surrey seamer Chris Tremlett bowling him for two in the second over.

- Scorecard

Tremlett softened up the 22-year-old with short-pitched deliveries, then hurled a fuller one that sneaked through the gate and crashed through his stumps, leaving the Australians at one wicket for two.

The hosts, reeling at 65 for four at lunch, fought back before being dismissed for 268 runs in their first innings after tea.

Tremlett then compounded the hosts' misery by removing Clarke for four, enticing the 29-year-old to feather a catch to wicketkeeper Matt Prior and leaving the hosts reeling at three for 28.

England hold a 1-0 lead in the five-Test series after crushing Australia in the second Test at Adelaide.

Shane Watson sort of steadied the Australia innings but survived a caught-behind dismissal on his sixth ball from James Anderson on review.

He had his second review turned down when he was trapped by a yorker from Steve Finn that cannoned into the opener's toe. He was out for 13.

Steve Finn trapped Shane Watson leg-before-wicket for 13 to leave the large English contingent in the packed crowd singing in ecstasy under blinding sunshine.

Watson, who had survived a caught-behind dismissal on his sixth ball from Anderson on review, had his second review turned down when trapped by a yorker from Finn that cannoned into the opener's toe.

The wicket left Australia mired in deep trouble at 36 for four shortly after the drinks break.

Mike Hussey, who has been forced into the saviour role throughout the series, attacked Finn with abandon, and rode his luck to pull the young quick for six with a top edge that flew over the keeper's head.

At lunch, Australia were reeling at 65 for four.

Steve Smith, on five, and Hussey (28) were left to mount a fightback on a pitch likely to provide little respite for the Australians in the afternoon sessions.

Haddin provided the deflated home crowd at the WACA a rare reason to cheer by bringing up his half-century as he and Mitchell Johnson frustrated the English bowlers by adding another 42 runs to survive to the tea-break.

Haddin and Johnson faced a mammoth task to lift Australia to a competitive total on a lively green-topped wicket.

But just when things were looking good, Anderson, provided the breakthrough soon after the tea interval as he had Haddin edging one to Swann.

Later, tail-end cameos by Johnson and Peter Siddle delighted home fans, but served to underline a missed opportunity by Australia's top order to weather the early attack and build a big total.

Anderson then bowled paceman Ryan Harris for three in his next over before Johnson celebrated a brave half-century in a solid return to the side after being dropped following the first Test in Brisbane.

Johnson's heroics were ended by Finn, however, who dismissed the southpaw for a top-scoring 62 after enticing him into a poorly hit pull shot straight to Anderson at square leg.

Swann then had Ben Hilfenhaus out for 13, caught by Cook at short leg to leave Siddle stranded on 35 not out.

For England, Andrew Strauss, on 12, and Alastair Cook (17) survived 12 overs in the last session to see the tourists to 29 for no loss at stumps.