Australia are on the verge of a 3-1 hammering in the Ashes after yet another dominant display from England on the fourth day of the fifth Test in Sydney.

The Australians conceded 644, the largest score by an England team in this country and the sixth-highest in all Tests Down Under, before the home side staggered to 7-213 at the close. It left the tourists three wickets away from a 3-1 series scoreline and the first time Australia will ever have lost three matches by an innings in the same series.

Shane Watson (38) was involved in a third run out for the summer to start the procession, allowing England’s pace trio of Tim Bresnan (2-32), Jimmy Anderson (2-50) and Chris Tremlett (2-53) to sweep away the rest with embarrassing ease.

Led by their combative wicketkeeper Matt Prior (118), England’s lower order had dominated Australia’s haggard bowlers as Bresnan (35), Graeme Swann (36 not out) and even last man Tremlett (12) made merry.

Mitchell Johnson (4-168) was treated at times like a club seamer, including a final four-over spell of 0-48, while Ben Hilfenhaus (3-121), Peter Siddle (1-111) and debutant Michael Beer (1-112) all notched unwanted centuries.