Australia in firm control after Marsh brothers' onslaught

A flagging England was spared another pummelling from the imperious Steven Smith but Usman Khawaja and Shaun Marsh picked up the slack with batting masterclasses to ensure a day of misery for the battered tourists on Saturday (January 6).

Led by Khawaja's brilliant 171 and Marsh's unbeaten 98, Australia dominated day three of the fifth Ashes Test to reach stumps on 479 for 4 with Mitchell Marsh not out on 63. Shaun needed three runs off the last over to reach a memorable ton but scored a single off the first ball and did not receive the strike again. After a slow start, the younger Marsh opened up towards the close to showcase his trademark powerful strokes, including 16 runs off a Moeen Ali over, and survived an overturned lbw decision just before stumps on 55.

Amid a sea of colour to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Pink Test in honour of Jane McGrath, the late wife of Australian legend Glenn McGrath, Khawaja stole the show earlier in the day with an indefatigable 381-ball knock comprising grit, class and concentration. After starting play tantalisingly poised on 91, the left-hander was dismissed just three runs short of equalling his highest Test score.

Khawaja reached his sixth Test century and first Ashes ton 30 minutes into the day's play, as he emotionally punched his fists into the air knowing he had alleviated growing pressure after a scratchy series. Seven years since he made his Test debut in the corresponding Ashes fixture, Khawaja broke through for his maiden home century as his fluent strokes stunningly returned to complement the pristine conditions bathing the SCG's stellar crowd of 43,170.

Against weary England bowlers amid hot temperatures nearing 30 degrees, Khawaja passed 2000 Test runs as he combined with Smith to put Australia in total command of the Test with a near double century stand. Smith, dubbed the 'Second Don' in the local press, effortlessly scored his half-century off 94 balls as England appeared clueless in stopping the batting cyborg.

James Anderson, the England spearhead, started by bowling full from around the wicket armed with a packed off-side field - a desperate strategy to the master batsman labelled as "backyard tactics" from Shane Warne, the legendary Australian spinner on the Channel Nine telecast.

One day after passing 6000 Test runs, Smith reached another milestone when he notched 2000 Ashes runs. The peerless Australian captain was finding the gaps with precision to continue his astounding Ashes, as he inched towards 700 runs in the series.

It looked inevitable that Smith was going to notch his fourth century of the series but the implausible happened just before lunch - the 28-year-old perished much to the shock of everyone at the ground. Seventeen runs shy of his century, Smith mistimed a drive back to Moeen, who claimed a sharp low catch to end the third-wicket stand of 188.

Mason Crane, England's debutant legspinner, nearly claimed his maiden Test wicket on the stroke of lunch when he trapped Khawaja in front. The original decision was given not out but referred by a confident England although instant replays showed Crane had overstepped, negating the review. In a cruel twist, ball tracking confirmed the decision would have been overturned and gifted Crane his maiden Test wicket, if not for the no ball.

Khawaja made use of the lucky escape after the long break as he raced to 150 by skipping down the track and thumping a Moeen delivery past mid-on. The 31-year-old had been scratchy on day two but found his groove to rediscover his majestic best.

The elder Marsh was given out caught behind on 22 off Joe Root but the decision was reversed on DRS in more misfortune for a luckless England. Marsh and Khawaja methodically stymied England in a 101-run fourth-wicket partnership, compiling runs slowly but effectively to take Australia into the lead. Continuing his successful Test comeback, Marsh displayed his newfound trademark grit taking 121 balls to reach his half-century. It was Marsh's fourth score above 50 in an effective series as he and Khawaja meticulously turned the screws on the weary tourists.

Just after tea, Crane (1-135 from 39 overs) finally claimed his first Test wicket when he outfoxed Khawaja, who was lured out of his crease but missed a wide turning delivery to be stumped. On a tough day for the tiring tourists, Crane was a shining light for England with unwavering enthusiasm manifesting in a lively bowling performance where he particularly weaved a spell over Mitchell Marsh.

Crane's debut has been encouraging for England but the tourists are staring down the barrel of a hefty loss and a 4-0 series defeat unless they can conjure something miraculous on day four. A ruthless Australia will be sniffing a victory inside four days.

Brief scores: England 346 trail Australia 479/4 (Usman Khawaja 171, Shaun Marsh 98*, Steven Smith 83, Mitchell Marsh 63*; James Anderson 1-51) by 133 runs.