SYDNEY: Centuries from Travis Head (163) and Steven Smith (129*) helped Australia post 352 on a moving Day 3 of the Ashes final to take a 134-run lead at stumps.
Australia ended the day at 518-7, leaving England with an uphill task to salvage the match.
England suffered an early setback on the annual Pink Day at the Sydney Cricket Ground when a catch-pin appeal against night watchman Michael Nacer lit up the second review of the morning.
Head, who was dismissed for 91, started fluently and headed for the boundary to go for 96, driving Josh Dungu to the covers to bring up his third century of the series and 12th Test century overall.
England’s woes deepened as Mathew Potts, unable to strike on Day 2, was dispatched for three consecutive fours by Head at the start of his spell.
A short-ball plan almost paid dividends when Brayden Garse induced a misguided pull, but Will Jacks spilled a straightforward chance at deep mid-wicket.
Neser, fluent though he was, contributed with several crisp off-side drives before England lost the final review in an unsuccessful LBW appeal against him.
His resistance ended when he edged Gars, ending his innings.
Head continued to dominate, finding the boundary time and again and reaching 150 with a scintillating shot over the slips.
At the other end, Smith grew in confidence and was fortunate when Jack Crawley failed to save a sharp chance at gully.
Head’s brilliant innings ended on 163 when Jacob Bethel trapped him lbw, and the batter failed to make a 54-run stoppage.
Usman Khawaja walked out in his final Test as Smith took control, hitting Ben Stokes for three consecutive fours to take Australia past 300.
England took the second new ball in the first innings, but Potts and Garse continued to leak runs as Smith brought up his half-century. Kars finally dismissed Khawaja lbw shortly after the pair added 50.
Alex Carey scored a blistering 16 off 13 balls before falling to Josh Tanguy with three fours through extra cover. Australia went to tea just 7 runs short of England’s first innings score of 384 runs.
The final session belonged entirely to Smith. Cameron Green opened with a boundary off Stokes after tea and Smith soon took center stage, mixing sharp runs, authoritative strokeplay and trademark flair.
A cover drive put Australia in the lead and Smith hit Bethel for a six straight down the field.
Smith moved towards backward square leg with a boundary in the 90s, but against the run of play, Green mishandled a pull and was caught by Ben Duckett, giving Garse his third wicket.
Smith then hit his 37th Test century through fine leg, surpassing Rahul Dravid to register his 13th Ashes century – only Sir Don Bradman (19) ahead of him.
Smith and Beau Webster (42*) added an unbroken 81 for the eighth wicket to cap a dominant day for Australia, who were in control at stumps.