Live Commentary: The Ashes: Third Test, day four - as it happened

Will Australia win the Ashes today? Another dominant display on day three of the third Test means that the hosts are firm favourites to take a 3-0 lead in this series. Hello everyone and thanks for joining me today. It promises to be an exciting few hours of cricket.

Yesterday was one of the worst days this England side has ever suffered. Nothing seemed to go right for the tourists. They lost six wickets to be dismissed for 251 in the morning session and David Warner hit the ball all over the WACA for his 112. Can they fight back today?

Australia will resume on 235-3, with Shane Watson (29*) and Steven Smith (5*) at the crease. Both of those players will score quickly as the hosts look to secure an even bigger lead before Michael Clarke chooses to declare. It's going to be difficult for England. Stuart Broad will not bowl for the rest of the match due to a foot injury he picked up yesterday.

Broad's absence is a big blow to the tourists. Not many England players can be happy with their form in this series but the seamer has looked a threat with the ball.

Australia have one hand on the urn. Could they secure a series victory today? Not many people will be backing England to bat for the time required to save a draw.

It's been a long, hard tour for England and we're not even three Tests in. One thing is for sure, Melbourne on Boxing Day for the fourth Test is not going to be fun if the Ashes have already been lost.

Michael Clarke will be delighted with his team's display yesterday. It's easy to point to England's poor form but the truth is that Australia are turning into a very impressive side. There seems to be so many players wearing the baggy green caps that can make a difference.

Despite the strong position his team are in, Clarke will know that this match is not over yet. It's still a very good pitch for batting, so Australia will have to work hard to pick up 10 wickets when their captain does declare.

Alastair Cook needs to get his team in the right frame of mind this morning in Perth. If England believe that they've already lost, then the result will arrive even quicker than expected.

When will Australia declare? In truth, a lead of 369 runs might be enough with the way England have been batting. Clarke might set a target of 500 runs ahead, or we could see the hosts bring their innings to an end at lunch.

England need to take wickets early on. They must keep Australia batting for as long as possible as they look to somehow salvage something from this game. The only way to stop Watson, Smith, George Bailey and Brad Haddin scoring in this situation is to take wickets.

Play is just five minutes away at the WACA. Australia begin the day on 235-3, 369 runs ahead of their rivals. Watson 29* Smith 5*

Cook leads his players out. It's time for the tourists to restore some pride. Watson and Smith are ready to go. It will be the former who starts on strike. Swann to bowl the first over. Play!

The cracks on the pitch are getting wider but we only really saw two balls misbehave yesterday. Swann starts the over well but Australia's intentions are obvious as Watson charges down the pitch to slog the fourth ball over mid-wicket for fourth runs. Not pretty, but effective. Shot! Nothing wrong with Watson's next boundary as he drills the ball straight past Swann for four more. Six! Wow, what a start to the day. Watson ends the over by launching a maximum over long-off. It's 14 from the first over.

Anderson takes the ball for the 72nd over of the innings. Smith gets on top of the bounce well to pull a single behind square. Watson reaches the rope for the fourth time when he just manages to keep out an in-swinger, with the ball then looping over the slips for four more. A nudge off the pads into the leg-side brings two more. Watson 49 Smith 6*

Clever work from Bell at leg-slip as he almost runs out Smith after the batsman had taken a step down the pitch. It's a much more uneventful over from Swann, who completes a maiden.

HALF-CENTURY! Watson moves from 29 to 50 inside the first four overs to record his 22nd half-century in Test match cricket. Every Australian seems to be finding form. Smith miscues a loft down the ground but still manages to collect two runs. There's some definite movement for Anderson with the old ball. No mistakes from Smith. The lead is 393. Watson 50* Smith 8

The fielders are back for Watson, who pushes a single to long-on. Close! Watson thinks there's a single on when Smith prods the ball to mid-off and he's almost punished when Root misses the stumps with the throw. Smith plays a couple of clever shots through fine-leg as Australia's good start to the day continues. Five from the over.

UPDATE: The England camp confirm that Broad has not suffered a fracture to his foot and he will be treated by the medical staff in the build up to the fourth Test. He will bat in this game if he's needed.

Stokes comes on for his first bowl of the day and he's inches away from a wicket when Watson comes close to chopping on. The all-rounder is then too short and Watson punishes him by pulling four through mid-wicket. Runs keep on flowing for Watson as he drags a bouncer through fine-leg for four more. A single to mid-off makes it nine from the over. Australia cruising, they lead by 407.

"Catch it," shouts Prior from behind the stumps but Swann has no chance of stopping a punch down the ground for four from Watson. Six! The next shot is caught, but it's a supporter celebrating in the stands as Watson launches a maximum over long-on. Six! Take cover in Perth. Watson clears the boundary again with another six over mid-wicket. Six! Stunning. Watson passes 50 runs for the session with a third maximum in the over. Swann has to be taken off. It's a massive 22 from the over.

Watson really is piling on the misery. England supporters, you won't want to here this latest statistic. Australia have now scored 1000 runs more than the tourists in this series. If it was a boxing match, the referee would have stepped in by now.

Smith is happy to play a supporting role as he knocks a single into the leg-side. Stokes doesn't offer too much freedom to Watson, whp picks up a single at the end of the over to steal the strike. Root is coming on to replace Swann. Watson 82* Smith 13

Watson drills the first ball of the over to long-on for one, before Smith plays a similar shot for the same result. Swann does well at short fine-leg to restrict a sweeping Watson to a single. Root is bowling just outside leg-stump and he's doing a pretty good job. Just four from the over.

Stokes picks up his second wicket of the innings when Smith miscues a pull to Bairstow, who is on for Broad, and the substitute fielder makes no mistake at deep mid-wicket. George Bailey in next for the hosts.

Bailey gets off the mark by clipping his second ball into the leg-side for one. A thick inside edge earns Watson a single to fine-leg. Good over from Stokes. Australia lead by 437. The new ball is now available.

Anderson bowls just one delivery with the old ball before trading in for the new version with Billy Bowden. The seamer gets one to nip away past Bailey's outside edge. A thick edge beats the fielders in the slips to bring Bailey four through third-man. Five scored in the over. Watson 86* Bailey 5

Watson cuts the ball past point for a single at the start of a new over. Stokes catches the edge with the new ball but it drops well short of Swann at second slip and Bailey sneaks to the other end to pick up a run. Watson targets another six but the ball seems to hit one of the cracks and the batsman gets nothing for his big swing. That's not a good sign for England. Three over extra cover makes it five from the over.

Six! When it's not going your way, it's pretty obvious. Bresnan takes a superb catch diving backwards at long-off when Watson takes the aerial route again but the fielder lands the other side of the rope and the batsman earns six runs. That's so unfortunate. Watson moves to 98* with a nudge into the leg-side. The England batsmen must be worried when they see a ball hit the crack and go past Watson's shoulder before racing to the rope for four wides. CENTURY! Watson gets to three figures with a flick through fine-leg for another boundary. It's been superb from Australia's number three, who started the day on 29 not out. Excellent innings. England have no answer. 18 runs off Anderson's over.

This dismissal is the kind you only usually see in village cricket. Watson is sure he's on his way when he miscues the ball straight into the air. Bell looks set to take the catch but he somehow manages to drop the chance. Bresnan, who has just come on for a new spell, reacts quickly to run out a stranded Watson. It's a comical end to a stunning innings from Watson.

Bell didn't even know Watson had been run out moments ago as he walked away after that awful drop. You won't see many stranger dismissals than that. Haddin is the new batsman but he's at the non-striker's end for now. Bailey runs well to collect two from a cut past point. Australia lead by 467. Will the declaration arrive before lunch?

Haddin gets off the mark by nudging Anderson to square-leg for one. Bailey clips a full-toss to deep mid-wicket to rotate the strike again. Shot! Haddin joins in on the fun by stepping away to club four runs over mid-wicket.

Drop! It's just getting worse for the tourists. Bailey slices the ball into the air and he thnks he's on his way. Bell leaves the catch to Anderson, who also pulls away to let his teammate do the rest. The ball drops in a gap between the two and Bailey survives. Terrible cricket.

That's how you catch the ball. Haddin miscues his shot and Swann reacts well to take the catch on the run at point. Mitchell Johnson is on his way out, so the innings will go on.

Bailey finds a single late in Bresnan's over to keep the strike. Does Clarke have a lead of 500 in mind?

Shot! Clever cricket from Bailey to reach the rope with a cheeky cut over Cook at slip. Six! The Australian supporters are loving it as Bailey launches a big six over Anderson's head. Two runs on the leg-side follow. Pietersen chases the ball at deep square-leg but he can't prevent Bailey from collecting four more. Sixes! I'm not sure how much the England supporters can take. Bailey hits the ball over the rope twice more to make it an amazing 28 from Anderson's over. Fantastic batting.

AUSTRALIA DECLARE: Clarke waves at Bailey and Johnson to come in as England's misery comes to an end, for now. The lead is 503. Australia have over five sessions to take the 10 wickets they need to win the series.

Clarke's team could not have made a better start on day four. Watson was superb for his 103, while Bailey (39*) equalled the Test record by hitting 28 off one over. England have been embarrassed by their fierce rivals. Cook and Carberry will return for a tricky spell before lunch.

4, 6, 2, 4, 6, 6. What a stunning end to Australia's innings. Bailey showed why he's such a brilliant one-day player. Clarke will be delighted to have around 30 minutes to find an early breakthrough before lunch.

It's been years since we've seen an England team look so negative on a cricket field. I'm not sure where they go from here. They've got to bat well. A number of people are playing for their places in this team.

If you can believe it, there's actually more bad news for England. There were clear signs in the first hour of the day that the cracks were starting to have an impact. Cook and Carberry, who are out in the middle, will have that in the back of their minds.

Australia need 10 wickets to win the Ashes. Ryan Harris starts the pursuit with the ball in his hand. Cook on strike. Play!

What a start for Australia! Harris produces a beauty which swings away before nipping back to hit Cook's stumps. England's skipper departs for a golden duck. Incredible scenes at the WACA.

Harris looks like the happiest man in the world after removing Cook with that stunning delivery. Joe Root is welcomed to the crease with a few words from Mr Warner. England's number three makes a confident start with four runs through cover. A nudge into the leg-side means he'll keep the strike. The tasks for the tourists looks even harder after the first over.

REVIEW! It's going to be very hard for the batsmen today. Johnson hits a crack early in his first over and the ball keeps low to hit Root's pad. Clarke decides to review the not out decision but it's not a wise choice, with Eagle Eye showing that the ball pitched well outside leg-stump. That's a waste from the hosts. The ball swings down the leg-side later in the over and England have four leg-byes thanks to a deflection off the thigh pad. Great start from Australia's opening bowlers. Carberry 0* Root 5

Carberry has never experienced pressure like this in all his years in county cricket. The Hampshire opener gets off the mark with a clip through square-leg for four runs. Carberry nibbles at one just outside off-stump but he doesn't get any bat on ball.

Johnson starts with a poor bouncer, which evades a diving Haddin to hand England five wides. Root is tempted into driving at a wider one. That's really not a shot he should be playing at this stage. Plenty of chat around the bat for Root, who shrugs it off with a smile. Carberry 4* Root 5

Carberry reaches the rope for the second time with a clip through mid-wicket for four. Harris won't mind seeing that shot while the ball is swinging. The seamer comes around the wicket to test the opener with a couple of bouncers, which Carberry watches pass him by. Just the boundary from the over.

Johnson is trying to give Root something else to think about by looking at the cracks in the pitch after every delivery. Root flicks a straight ball off his pads for a couple through fine-leg. Four slips and a gully wait for the edge but the over ends without another disaster for the tourists. Nathan Lyon is going to get an over before lunch.

LUNCH: Carberry manages to keep Lyon out in the final over of the session. There's some good areas for the spinner to work with but England's opener displays a solid defence to survive. Carberry 8 Root 7*

Just then you think it can't get any better for Australia, they produce a stunning session of cricket to edge closer to a series triumph. Watson punished the tourists with the bat and Harris delivered a beautiful delivery to dismiss Cook with the first ball of the innings.

Nine more wickets. That's all Australia need to win back the Ashes. They'll be determined to make another breakthrough in around 35 minutes, when I'll return to bring you coverage of the second session. See you then.

Welcome back everyone. 504 is an impossible target but can England save anything from this match? Australia are just nine wickets away from claiming the Ashes. Root and Carberry need to survive the next session.

Everything seemed to happen in that amazing first session. Shane Watson, who started the day on 29*, reached his century before being run out in comical fashion by Tim Bresnan. George Bailey struck a record-equalling 28 runs off one Jimmy Anderson and Ryan Harris produced a stunning delivery to remove Alastair Cook with the first ball of the England innings. I've only just started breathing normally again.

Australia will be hoping for more fireworks in the second session at the WACA. We've had just seven overs in this innings, with England reaching lunch on 24-1. Carberry 8* Root 7*

England need to keep fighting on a pitch that is starting to offer some help for the bowlers. It will be Peter Siddle who bowls the first over after lunch. Root on strike. Play!

Siddle is on target immediately and he's close to finding a wicket with his second ball when Root flirts with one outside off-stump. The seamer drifts down the leg-side moments later to concede four leg-byes. Root ends the over by opening the face of the bat to guide a single through third-man.

Root needs to force himself forward to defend the full ball from Harris, who has returned after lunch looking to produce some more unplayable deliveries. A punch off the back foot allows Root to rotate the strike. Harris hits one of the cracks and the ball barely makes it through to Haddin behind the stumps. Carberry then adds another run with a flick off the hip. Carberry 9* Root 9

Carberry (11 from 26 balls) is playing sensibly early in his innings. Siddle will test the opener's technique with his impressive accuracy but there's no mistakes yet. Just a couple through mid-wicket from the over.

Haddin makes a rare mistake behind the stumps when Harris finds some extra bounce and England take the opportunity to sneak a bye. Harris is forcing the batsmen to play regularly, which is exactly what Clarke will want to see. Carberry picks up four at the end of the over with a sliced drive past point.

Siddle's spell lasts just two overs as Johnson returns for a fresh burst. Bailey sticks on the guards to take his place at short-leg. Root reads the bluff well to keep out a full delivery, before pushing a single into the off-side. Carberry gets on top of the bounce to play the short ball impressively and his reward is a single past Warner at gully. Carberry 16* Root 10

Siddle switches ends to replace Harris. It's not a good start to the over for the seamer as he over-pitches to invite a firm drive for four from Carberry. A delivery misbehaves off one of the cracks to hit the batsman's thigh pad, so Clarke responds by putting Bailey at short-leg again. Shot! Carberry continues to look untroubled at the crease as he rocks backs to pull four behind square. Eight from the over.

Good cricket from Root to collect a single following a defensive push early in the over. Close! Johnson catches the edge with a slightly shorter ball but Carberry plays with soft hands and the ball drops short of Smith at third slip. Australia need to be patient.

Root plays down the wrong line and he's fortunate not to deliver a thin edge through to Haddin. The Yorkshire batsman brings up the 50 partnership with a punch through the covers for three runs. Carberry beats Warner at gully to earn himself a run to third-man, before Root steals the strike at the end of the over with a push into the off-side. This could be the curse, but England are looking pretty comfortable.

Clarke might be temped to try Watson soon to see if the all-rounder can build some pressure with a tight line and length. Root collects just one run off Johnson's latest over with a push to point. Carberry 25 Root 16*

Root thinks twice before fully committing to a risky cut shot when Siddle goes wider with his line. It's a maiden over from the seamer.

Lyon is into the attack again after bowling just one over before the lunch interval. Some extra bounce helps the spinner catch Carberry's edge but the contact is firm enough to bring the batsman two runs through third-man. Close! Carberry charges down the pitch to attempt a loft over the top but he can only edge the ball past Clarke at slip. He'll be relieved to see the ball race to the rope. Carberry 31 Root 16*

Changes at both ends from Clarke as Watson is thrown the ball for the first time. Just one scored early in the over, with Root pushing the ball to mid-off.

Watson makes the breakthrough! Australia appeal for everything when the seamer nips one back at Carberry, with Clarke taking a catch in the slips. There's no bat involved, so you have to assume that Billy Bowden raised the finger for the lbw. Important wicket for the hosts. Pietersen in next.

Lyon stays around the wicket to bowl an over at Root, who has plenty of company around the bat. One of the close fielders, Warner, makes a good stop at leg-gully to block a flick off the pads. Maiden over.

Shot! Pietersen is off the mark in style when he drives Watson's half-volley down the ground for four runs. Some late movement causes problems for the new batsman but the ball nips back too much for lbw to be in play. Pietersen opens the face of the bat to guide a single past point. Five off the over.

It's no surprise to see Siddle return to the attack following Pietersen's arrival at the crease. The seamer has been all over Pietersen in this series. Siddle settles on a good length and he makes life uncomfortable with the batsman when one ball nips back off the seam. Pietersen deserves four runs for a powerful clubbed effort but the ball crashes into the stumps at the other end. Maiden over.

Watson goes very full to Root but the line is wrong and the bowler concedes a leg-bye. There's half an appeal for caught behind when Pietersen chases a wider one but any sound is made by the bat hitting the ground. Root 17* Pietersen 5

Siddle is kept away from Pietersen for an over as Root stubbornly keeps out a maiden over. England's number three has 17 from 76 balls. It's not pretty but he won't care.

Watson stands still, with hands on head, when a thick inside edge saves Pietersen from an early exit. The cracks make an impact again when the ball darts away from Root, who would do well to get any bat on a delivery like that. Good pressure from Australia. Just a couple from the over.

Johnson is back on for a new spell. Root drops and runs early in the over for a quick single. Pietersen gets on top of the bounce well to guide two through mid-wicket. Clarke responds to that shot by placing Smith at short-leg. Superb fielding from Lyon in the deep stops Pietersen scoring more than one with a powerful pull shot. Root 19 Pietersen 9*

Siddle switches ends to get another go at Pietersen, who collects two runs with a thick inside edge. Pietersen is definitely growing in confidence at the crease. Clarke needs to remain patient and keep trusting the plans.

Cook, Prior and Bairstow are trying to cheer up by having an ice cream. Is it working? I doubt it.

Big wicket for the hosts! Root chases a wide, full delivery from Johnson and Haddin dives across first slip to take a stunning catch. England's number three chooses to review the decision. Why? I'm not quite sure. A replay shows it was a genuine edge and he's forced to depart.

Close! Bell is greeted by a beauty from Johnson which nips back off the seam to come close to catching the inside edge at 91mph. The new batsman does get an edge on the next delivery to save himself from being trapped lbw. Superb over from Johnson. It's a wicket maiden.

Australia will feel that this is the key partnership. Stokes is still trying to find his feet at Test level and Prior is struggling for form. A wicket could bring a few very quickly. Pietersen and Bell both find a single in Siddle's over.

Johnson is too short and too wide to Bell, who gets on his toes to cut three over point. The bowler almost finds a way through with some late movement but Pietersen keeps the in-swinger out. Close! Haddin attempts another diving catch but he can't get near the ball when Pietersen gloves one down the leg-side.

Good move from Clarke to give Harris a spell before the tea break. Luckily for Bell, the seamer doesn't start this spell with a beauty like the one that dismissed Cook. It's a good over. Maiden.

Changes at both ends as Lyon comes back on. If England can get a wicket before tea, they will definitely feel like the series could be won today. Pietersen drops to one knee to sweep the spinner behind square for a single. It's a tight start to the spell from Lyon. Pietersen 17* Bell 4

Pietersen is batting sensibly today but England supporters will be hoping that there isn't a rush of blood around the corner. Five dot balls are followed by a drive through cover for four when Harris goes too full. Good cricket.

TEA: There's some good bounce for Lyon as he asks Bell some questions from around the wicket. England's hero from this summer's series sits back to nudge a single past short-leg. The fielders come up to encourage Pietersen to attack. He accepts the invitation to loft three runs over mid-wicket. Bell adds a single through extra cover off the final ball of the session.

Compared to the madness we saw in the first session, the last couple of overs have been pretty quiet. Australia won't mind too much. They've made steady progress by taking the wickets of Carberry and Root. Pietersen (24*) and Bell (6*) have to bat for the rest of the day to keep England's slim hopes of saving the match alive.

England need 409 runs to win the match. More realistically, Australia need seven more wickets to regain the Ashes. It's been another superb day for the hosts.

Australia delighted the Perth crowd with a stunning session of cricket at the start of the day. Watson played aggressively for 103 and Bailey equalled Brian Lara's record of 28 runs from one over, with Anderson being the disappointed bowler. Michael Clarke declared with a lead of 503 and the hosts made the perfect start with the ball when Ryan Harris bowled Alastair Cook with the first delivery of the innings.

The series might be gone and the match looks to be heading for an inevitable Australian triumph. However, Pietersen and Bell have the opportunity to find some form by producing a big score.

If the impossible is to happen and England are going to save this game, they simply cannot lose another wicket today. Australia will feel that Johnson can cause a lot of damage in a short space of time if this partnership is broken.

Australia have had their cups of tea and the bowlers will be on the hunt for those seven wickets in just a few moments. Every Aussie supporter inside the ground wants to see that happen today.

Pietersen, Bell and the Australians are back out in the middle. Siddle will bowl the first over of the session. "Play," shouts Marais Erasmus.

Close! Siddle is agonisingly close to a wicket when Bell swings wildly at a wider delivery. That's a very poor shot in this situation. It's a maiden. 36 overs left in the day.

Lyon starts the session with the ball at the other end, probably due to the risky shot we saw from Pietersen before the tea break. Shot! The Barmy Army applaud when plays a clever shot through fine-leg for four runs. Once again Clarke brings the fielders up late in the over and Pietersen responds by drilling a full delivery through the covers for four more. 100 up for the tourists.

Siddle hangs a couple outside off-stump before seeing a straighter ball clipped through the leg-side by Bell for three runs. Pietersen solid in defence. Steady stuff from England.

Bell chips the ball in the air but the shot is safe enough and he picks up a single. Six! Clarke puts Harris on the long-on boundary but he can only watch as Pietersen launches the ball over the rope. Should he be doing that? I don't think Australia will mind him freeing the arms. A leg-bye means Pietersen will keep the strike.

Shot! Siddle goes wide on the crease but Pietersen gives us another sign that he might be finding some form with a superb drive down the ground for four. A single follows late in the over as Pietersen edges closer to his half-century. Pietersen 43* Bell 10

Lyon is slightly too short to Pietersen, who clips two through square-leg.

Should he have been playing the shot? He definitely shouldn't be playing it twice. Pietersen eyes another maximum but Clarke's plan works as Harris takes the catch at long-on. The criticism will continue.

How are your nerves, Mr Stokes? The Durham all-rounder keeps out the rest of Lyon's over. Pietersen delights the crowd when he clears the rope but the plan was so obvious from Australia. It's not what England needed.

Bell finds a single early in Siddle's over. Close! Stokes isn't far away from picking out Bailey at short-leg but he manages to avoid a duck with two through mid-wicket. Johnson might be back soon.

Broad is in the nets, so it looks like he will give it a go if asked to bat later today. It's another good over from Lyon, with just one single being scored by Bell.

Clarke also thinks it's time to bring back Johnson. Bell cuts a loose delivery to point, where a fumble from Warner hands the batsman a single. Stokes runs well to collect two with a clip off the hip, before adding a couple more by confidently pulling the ball through mid-wicket. Bell 13* Stokes 6

Warner is in place at leg-gully but Bell is more than happy to clip the ball off his thigh pad at the start of Lyon's over. Stokes was confident in leaving the spinner during the first innings and he frustrates Haddin again by watching the ball pass his off-stump. Just one from the over.

Bell does well to keep out one that keeps low from Johnson and his reward is a single. Shot! Stokes looks to be in nice touch early in the innings and he earns four with a perfect straight drive. Warner cleans up in the deep when Stokes pulls for two more runs. A single off the final ball means the Durham ace will keep the strike.

Lyon, with the aim of forcing Stokes to play, is probably a fraction too full in his over. Five dot balls are followed by a skip down the pitch and a push for four from Stokes. Good batting. Bell 15* Stokes 17

We've got 25 overs left in the day. Australia need to get a move on if they want to open the champagne tonight in Perth.

The slips shout for a catch when Bell leans back to take on the shorter ball. There's a third-man in place but he's unable to stop the batsman picking up four runs. Shot! A push into the off-side hands the strike to Stokes, who stands tall to pull four runs to the rope. He'll take a lot of confidence if he can produce a big score. Bell 29* Stokes 21

Bell uses his feet well to keep out Lyon from around the wicket. The strike is rotated when Bell skips down the pitch to nudge the ball to Harris at long-on. Close! Stokes takes a KP style risk when he slices a lofted shot but the ball lands safely and he earns a couple of runs.

Harris is back on to replace Johnson. Shots! Too short from the bowler and Bell takes full advantage by drilling four through mid-wicket. It's surprising to see Harris make the same mistake again moments later but you won't be surprised to find out that Bell hit the ball to the rope again. Six! Superb from Bell as he makes it 15 off the over with a cut over the slips for a maximum and a quick single.

Bell brings up the 50 partnership from 62 balls with a cut past point for two. The positive batting continues when the Warwickshire ace sweeps four in front of square. Lyon responds well to catch the outside edge but the contact is firm enough to bring Bell a single. Bell 43* Stokes 23

Harris starts a new over with a bouncer which Bell works into the leg-side for a single. Stokes is invited to play outside off-stump and he's fortunate not to deliver an edge to Haddin. Shot! Harris seems to be struggling slightly with his length. Stokes cashes in to drive four through cover, before pulling another run to deep mid-wicket.

Stokes wisely decides against attacking early in a new over. However, a short ball invites the pull shot and England's latest number six confidently sends the ball to the rope for four more. 19 overs still scheduled to be bowled. Just over an hour available to the hosts.

The pull shots keep on coming. Bell gets off strike with a single through square-leg. Stokes finds the middle of the bat again to hammer four more past wide mid-on. Clarke needs to change this tactic. A thick edge earns Stokes two runs through third-man at the end of the over.

Johnson fires in a good bouncer early in the over but Bell does just enough to pick up a single behind square on the leg-side. The seamer loses his line to Stokes, who clips the ball off his hip to reach the rope again. Australia getting frustrated. Much better from England. Bell 45* Stokes 42

Watson, who removed Carberry earlier in the day, is back for a new spell as Clarke looks to build some pressure. The plan doesn't work immediately, with Bell steering the ball through point for another boundary. Bell gets an inside edge on the next ball but he's safe without a short-leg in place. A couple of deliveries keep low. Not a good sign for the optimistic England supporter.

Changes at both ends, with Siddle replacing Johnson. Good control from the seamer but Stokes blocks out a maiden confidently.

HALF-CENTURY! It's been a difficult today but the England supporters have something to cheer when Bell reaches his 39th Test 50 with a single through fine-leg. If the tourists want to achieve the great escape, both of these will have to continue for a long, long time. Close! The partnership almost comes to an end when Stokes slices a drive over Lyon at point. Time for a drink.

England fans will go back to bed or head to work dreaming of the impossible if these two can keep batting until the end of the day. It's important for Australia to hold their nerve. There's still a lot of time for them to find the six wickets they need.

Clarke is looking at two of his most economical bowlers to build pressure. One more wicket before the close of play would be a very good result for the hosts. Just one ball misbehaves in the over but Bell does well to keep it out. Maiden. Bell 50 Stokes 44*

Stokes remains patient, keeping out the good ones from Watson before punishing a fuller delivery with a whip through mid-wicket for four. Good cricket. Bell 50* Stokes 48

Close! Bell goes after the wider one from Siddle and he's lucky to see a thick edge sail over Smith at third slip. Much better from the batsman later in the over when he lofts four over wide mid-off. A similar shot follows moments later but Bell earns just two on this occasion. REVIEW! Clarke uses his final review when a noise through to Haddin fails to bring a raise of the finger from Marais Erasmus. Will this be the breakthrough?

Relief at the WACA! Hotspot doesn't help but Snicko shows that there was an edge from Bell. That's an important moment for Australia. The hosts need five more wickets to win the series.

HALF-CENTURY! Stokes reaches 50 for the first time in Test cricket with a brilliant straight drive for four. It's probably not going to make a difference but this could be an important moment in the all-rounder's career. A thin top edge down the leg-side earns Stokes four more later in Watson's over. Prior will face Siddle. Stokes 56 Prior 0*

Prior gets off the mark with a flick through fine-leg for one. 12th man Chris Tremlett rushes out with a replacement bat for Stokes, who finds the middle of his new tool with four through the covers. Excellent shot.

Johnson does the chasing when Prior picks up three through mid-wicket. Australia will surely need at least one more wicket to claim the extra 30 minutes at the end of the day. Can England survive to force a fifth day? Stokes steals the strike at the end of Watson's over.

A fumble from Rogers on the leg-side allows Stokes to sneak a couple of runs. Siddle is furious with his teammate for denying him the opportunity to bowl at Prior, who he has dismissed 11 times in Test cricket. Stokes adds two more with a punch through the covers, before running well to find another two to fine-leg. Siddle ends the over with a full-toss which Stokes punishes to reach the rope at mid-wicket. Stokes 71 Prior 4*

Lyon is back as we enter the final 10 minutes of the day. Prior skips forward to push a single to mid-off. Stokes sits deep in the crease to work the ball into the leg-side for another run. Lyon does find the edge late in the over but the ball drops well short of Clarke at slip.

Johnson is back for an over as Clarke looks for another wicket which might allow the hosts to claim an extra 30 minutes. Stokes ducks a bouncer and does well to keep out an attempted yorker. There's still time for Johnson to hit one of the cracks again but the ball does too much to concern the batsman. Maiden. There's enough time for one more over from Lyon.

CLOSE OF PLAY: Close! Lyon pushes one across Prior and he's an inch away from catching the outside edge. Prior gets bat on ball to drive two through cover off the final delivery of the day. Stokes 72* Prior 7*

Australia have one hand on the urn but some refreshing fight from England means that this game will go into a fifth day. It's been another fantastic day for the hosts, who have been superb once again.

England need an unlikely 253 runs for victory. Australia require just five more wickets for a series triumph. Can the hosts regain the Ashes tomorrow? Will Ben Stokes record his maiden Test century?

Thanks for joining me on another exciting day of Ashes cricket. Make sure you return at 2.00am (UK time) tomorrow as Australia look to win the series at the WACA. Goodbye.