Rock-solid Jacob Bethell was not out on 79 as England reduced Australia’s lead to just nine runs by tea on day four of the fifth and final Ashes Test on Wednesday, but veteran Joe Root fell cheaply.
The tourists battled to 174-3 at the break at the Sydney Cricket Ground with Harry Brook on 24 alongside the 22-year-old, who is aiming for a maiden century.
Australia were dismissed for 567 before lunch thanks to Travis Head’s 163 and 138 from skipper Steve Smith.
That left England chasing a 183-run deficit after their first innings of 384, with a question mark over Ben Stokes’ ability to bat.
The England captain limped off grabbing what appeared to be his groin while bowling in the third round of the day and did not reappear.
Mitchell Starc removed Zak Crawley for one as England reached lunch at 80-1, then Ben Duckett (42) and first-innings century-maker Root (6) departed during the second session.
Australia lead the series 3-1 and have already retained the Ashes, with England desperate for another morale-boosting victory following their victory in the previous Test in Melbourne.
They needed a good start to the run, but tormentor-in-chief Starc once again conjured up a breakthrough first – his 29th wicket for the series.
The pace spearhead delivered a magnificent inswinger which Crawley misjudged and departed, with the ball hitting his pads and he was off weight for one.
Duckett and Bethell survived until lunch, although Duckett lived dangerously, dropped on 38 by Cameron Green diving past Smith at first slip.
The Nottinghamshire opener failed to capitalize and was run out in the third over after the break, clipping Michael Neser for 42, his highest score in a miserable series.
Root, fresh from his first round 160, was terrorized by Starc and Neser.
He finally fell in weight after 37 face balls for his six overs against the relentless Scott Boland, the 35-year-old walking away painfully dejected.
But Bethell proved immovable and conjured up a fourth Test half-century with a boundary from Starc as he looks to make the number three spot his own.
Australia resumed at 518-7, with Smith on 129 after his 13th Ashes century – more than any other player except the legendary Don Bradman – and Beau Webster on 42.
Smith whipped Stokes through the covers for a boundary in his first over, while Webster meted out similar treatment to Brydon Carse.
But the Australian skipper did not last long, sending a fuller delivery from Josh Tongue to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.
All-rounder Webster reached a fifth half-century in his eighth Test with a single and made it 20 with Starc before the big pacer was bowled by Tongue for five.
Scott Boland suffered a golden duck, edging Will Jacks past Harry Brook in the slips to leave Webster unbeaten on 71.
Tongue finished with 3-97 and Carse 3-130.
