David Warner and Michael Clarke scored dominant centuries to put Australia firmly in control of the first Ashes cricket test on Saturday, leaving England needing an unlikely 537 for victory at the end of day three at the Gabba in Brisbane.
The hosts declared at 401 for seven an hour before stumps and compounded their advantage by removing Michael Carberry and Jonathan Trott cheaply to leave England clinging on at 24 for two.
England would need to better the best ever fourth innings run chase in test cricket by 143 runs to get the 561 runs for victory but more realistically will look to dig in and hope the rainstorms forecast for Brisbane materialise.
Barring a 15-minute rain delay before lunch, the weather failed England on Saturday and the day instead belonged to belligerent opener Warner and his cultured captain.
Put in the driving seat when their bowlers dismissed the tourists for 136 on Friday, the pair gleefully grasped the controls and raced away from England in a 158-run partnership for the third wicket.
Warner hammered 124 off 154 balls for his fourth test century and first against England, while Clarke’s 113 came off 130 balls for the 25th hundred of his career and sixth in the Ashes.