Ashes: Wobbly England 71/3 at tea after Australia declared at 662/9 on Day 4 of Perth Test

After Smith top-scored for the hosts with 239, three quick wickets by Hazlewood - who removed both England openers - and Nathan Lyon put the hosts within seven wickets of reclaiming the Ashes.

Steve Smith (Reuters)

Perth: Australia moved within seven wickets of reclaiming the Ashes on Sunday after England's top order crumbled to be 71/3 when rain brought tea five minutes early on day four of the third Test.

Paceman Josh Hazlewood removed both England openers, with Alastair Cook falling for 14 in his 150th Test, and spinner Nathan Lyon dismissing England captain Joe Root for 14.

England number three James Vince was 36 not out with first innings centurion Dawid Malan on four, the pair tasked with mounting an improbable rescue mission with their side still 188 runs short of making the hosts bat again.

Clouds that had hovered impotently for most of the day finally opened late in the session, prompting joyous cheers from British fans at the WACA.

Australia captain Steve Smith declared after lunch at 662 for nine, the biggest Ashes innings total at home, taking a lead of 259 runs. The innings total was also their third highest at home in all Tests.
England`s chase began disastrously with opener Mark Stoneman caught behind for three in the second over, seemingly hypnotised into a lead-footed push away from the body in the space of five metronomic balls by seamer Josh Hazlewood.

Six overs later, Cook was sent packing by the same bowler, the former captain`s dreadful run of form this series continuing in his 150th Test.

Having pulled a short ball to the fence, Cook spooned a leading edge low and straight back to the paceman who took a brilliant reflex catch to dismiss him. Cook`s previous scores this series are seven, 16, 37, seven and two.

With England desperate for a captain`s knock, Root joined Vince in the middle and the pair added 31 runs to prompt a bowling change.

Lyon was introduced and had Root caught at slip with his first delivery, the skipper playing a loose drive away from the body and Smith snaffling the chance when it pinged off Tim Paine`s gloves.

Trailing 2-0 after defeats in Brisbane and Adelaide, England need at least a draw at the WACA to ensure the five-match series is still alive when it moves to Melbourne.

Their hopes of saving the Test may rely on the weather, with showers also forecast on day five. 

Alarmingly for the tourists, the pitch is showing increasing variable bounce with a big crack opening up in front of the crease at the southern end.

England paceman James Anderson earlier broke Smith and Mitchell Marsh`s 301-run stand with the second ball of the morning after Australia resumed on 549 for four.

All-rounder Marsh fell leg before to Anderson and was unable to add to his overnight 181 on a sunny, breezy morning at the WACA.

The wicket triggered a mini-collapse as Australia lost three for 12 with the dismissals of Smith (239) and Mitchell Starc (one) in quick succession.

Wicketkeeper Tim Paine (49 not out) and Pat Cummins steadied the home side with a 93-run stand before Cummins was out lbw to Anderson for 41.

Lyon was the last Australian wicket to fall off Anderson, when he skied a catch for Moeen Ali to be out for four.