The Ashes: England facing defeat

Australia's Michael Hussey celebrates hitting a century on day three of the third Ashes test. Photo / AP

Australia are a mere five wickets from squaring the Ashes series following another enthralling day of the third Test against England at the WACA Ground.

Australia set England 391 to win before Mitchell Johnson (2-28), Ryan Harris (2-22) and Ben Hilfenhaus (1-16) struck telling blows to leave the tourists in all sorts of bother at 5-81 when stumps were drawn.

Harris conjured a joyous conclusion for Australia when his subtle outswing drew an edge from Paul Collingwood on the last ball of the day.

Australia were bowled out for 309 shortly after tea, reliant largely on the contributions of Mike Hussey (116) and opener Shane Watson (95).

It now seems bizarre many sound judges had Hussey dropped before the series began, for he has tallied 517 runs at 103.4 and is yet to be dismissed without passing 50.

Australia would be utterly lost without him.

He has also become the first batsman in Ashes history to pass 50 in six consecutive innings, after closing the 2009 series with a century in vain on the final day at the Oval in London.

Watson was crestfallen to be dismissed between 50 and 100 for the 14th time, but his innings was no less noteworthy than Hussey's.

Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook began the pursuit with confidence and had reduced the target by 23 when Ricky Ponting swung Harris around to the Lillee Marsh Stand end for instant success.

Cook was back when he should have been forward to a ball that broke back and did not even bother to refer the decision.

Johnson's first over brought a flurry of anticipation and attacking strokes from England, but in his third the bowler gained just enough away movement to draw a Strauss edge to Ponting in the cordon.

Kevin Pietersen's arrival after the misadventures of the first innings brought both players and spectators to a high pitch of excitement, but he calmly evaded a pair while receiving plenty of advice from the Australian fielders.

His departure for three, fiddling at the excellent Hilfenhaus and edging to slip, brought perhaps the loudest cheer of the day, rivalled only when Jonathan Trott snicked Johnson to Brad Haddin via Ponting's parry as shadows lengthened.

Ponting left the field with an apparent finger injury, but it is difficult to imagine him not taking the field on what should be the last day of the match.

The touring attack had earlier toiled with their customary discipline, Chris Tremlett (5-87, eight wickets for the match) leading them off the field after claiming his best Test figures, while Steven Finn (3-97) and Jimmy Anderson (1-65) also had their moments.

Graeme Swann (0-51 in nine overs) struggled for impact against Hussey's nimble footwork and at times the medium pace of Paul Collingwood (1-3) was preferred.

Watson and Hussey did well to keep out the probing early spells of Anderson and Tremlett.

The lead was past 250 and Watson within five of three figures when he played around a straight ball from Tremlett and was out lbw.

There was a fortune-filled cameo from No.6 Steve Smith (36), but regular wickets left England harbouring some hope of a chase to rival South Africa's 414 on this ground two years ago.

It was not to last.

SCOREBOARD

- AAP