Australia are in the driving seat after Day 3 of the third Ashes Test against England at the WACA in Perth.
Aussie Captain Steve Smith scored a maiden Ashes double century to leave the hosts coasting on 549 for four 146 runs ahead of England’s first innings of 403 all out.
Day 3 of the third Test at the WACA simply belonged to Australia.
The Aussies resumed their first innings on 203 for the loss of three wickets trailing by 200 runs.
England claimed the scalp of Shaun Marsh for 28, but that was the only success the tourists could manage as a prolific unbeaten 301 stand between Mitchell Marsh and his skipper Smith turned the tide for hosts.
Smith, who resumed on his overnight total of 92, batted throughout the day and became only the fifth Aussie captain to score an Ashes double century surpassing a 1 000 Test runs in a calendar year for the fourth straight time.
He was complimented at the other end by Perth native Marsh who silenced his detractors with his maiden Test ton.
Both batsmen ended the day on career best figures; Smith unbeaten on 229; Marsh on 181 and Australia seemed to be cruising to their third straight victory of the series going to stumps on 549 for the loss of four wickets with a lead of 146 runs.
Rain has been predicted over the next two days in the Western Australian city and that may be the only hope for the English to salvage a draw.
