Joe Root dropped a costly catch and his top six batsmen dropped their bundle in Leeds, where Australia skittled England for 67, then batted through day two of the third Ashes test to tighten their grip on the urn.
Australia will resume at 171/6, holding a 283-run lead.
England fought hard with the ball - especially Ben Stokes, during a marathon spell - but a couple of errors helped the tourists hammer home their advantage, after Josh Hazlewood ignited a series-changing collapse of 10/57.
Marnus Labuschagne, unbeaten on 53 after top-scoring with 74 on day one, led the way with the bat yet again for Australia.
Stokes delivered 15.2 overs, with the only respite during that uphill stint being some four deliveries from an overworked Jofra Archer that prompted the express paceman to limp off the field with cramp.
Archer returned to field later on Friday, with England confident the setback was nothing serious.
Root almost bowled Stokes to breaking point, with the allrounder sitting down after dismissing Matthew Wade for 33, rather than celebrating the wicket.
The fiery allrounder was frustrated on several fronts, given his dismissal to James Pattinson was among the most cringeworthy moments of the morning's chaos.
Stokes removed Wade and Travis Head, while he consistently troubled Labuschagne.
Labuschagne was on 14, when Root put down a sitter at first slip, off the bowling of Stokes, and he was on 42, when Jonny Bairstow put down a one-handed chance created by the same bowler.
Labuschagne would have been dismissed on 35, when Root reviewed a caught-behind shout off Stokes, but replays revealed a no-ball.
Tim Paine's team would retain the urn, if they win at Headingley.
That result was the most likely outcome, when Hazlewood snared 5/30 and Australia claimed a shock first-innings lead of 112 runs, embarrassing the home side in record-breaking fashion.
Joe Denly, the only Englishman to reach double figures, was out for 12 to set a new record for the lowest-ever top score in a completed England test inning.
But Australia crashed to 52/3 in an underwhelming response.
David Warner was trapped lbw by Stuart Broad for a second-ball duck, while Marcus Harris and Usman Khawaja both failed to kick on, after making starts.
Labuschagne steadied to slowly, but surely sap the home side's morale.
AAP
