David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne passed 50, but their teammates had no answers, as Jofra Archer snared 6/45 in Leeds, rolling Australia for 179 on a rain-affected opening day of the third Ashes test.
The tourists suffered a stunning collapse of 8/43, when Archer backed up his remarkable test debut by creating more chaos.
A watchful Warner overcame a tortured start to score 61, after he was invited to bat first under overcast skies, but also immense pressure sparked by early-series struggles and the absence of Steve Smith.
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Labuschagne, who proved his match-saving 59 in the Lord's draw as a concussion substitute for Smith was no flash in the pan, weathered an eye-watering blow to the box late in the day, before falling on 74 to a full toss from Ben Stokes.
A furious Labuschagne reviewed his leg-before-wicket dismissal - out of desperation more than anything else - but the third umpire ratified the verdict.
Warner and Labuschagne shared a 111-run stand, frustrating Joe Root with the help of delays prompted by bad light and light rain at Headingley.
But, as is so often the case in England, one wicket quickly brought another two in a collapse of 3/3 over 15 balls.
Tim Paine, the only other batsman to reach double figures outside Warner and Labuschagne, steadied temporarily, but Archer returned to the attack to fire out three tailenders in a collapse of 5/17 that ended the day and innings.
The express paceman first swung momentum with a pinpoint delivery that Warner edged to keeper Jonny Bairstow.
Warner, who steered Australia out of serious trouble at 2/25 in arguably his most important innings since serving a year-long suspension, was booed and abused by spectators, as he left the field amid a heightened security presence.
Travis Head was clean bowled for a duck the following over, when a slick ball from Stuart Broad moved late and kissed the top of off-stump.
Matthew Wade was bowled without getting off the mark by an Archer delivery, which struck the thigh pad, then rolled onto the stumps.
Paine was out for 11, when Root reviewed a Chris Woakes lbw shout, after a security guard near the sight screen seemingly unsettled the Aussie captain.
After tea, Warner and Labuschagne's scored 79 runs in an hour, as England struggled to hide their frustration and started to turn on each other. The blitz left Australia well placed to build a far more imposing first-innings total.
But knowing England must avoid defeat in Leeds to be any hope of snatching the urn, Archer had other ideas.
AAP
