Third Test (day 4) in Perth: Australia 268 (MG Johnson 62, MEK Hussey 61, BJ Haddin 53) & 309 (MEK Hussey 116, SR Watson 95; CT Tremlett 5-87) v England 187 (IR Bell 53, AJ Strauss 52; MG Johnson 6-38) & 123 (RJ Harris 6-47)
Australia won by 267 runs.

England failed to bat out the opening hour of the fourth day of the Third Test at the WACA as Australia claimed the five wickets they needed to level the Ashes series at 1-1, with two Tests to play.

Ryan Harris took four of the wickets to fall, to return his career-best figures of six for 47, as England were bowled out for 123 to suffer a convincing 267-run defeat in Perth.

Australia had done most of the damage the previous day when England slumped to 81 for five chasing 391 for a victory that would have seen the tourists retain the Ashes.

But Harris quickly denied England this morning as he recorded his first five-wicket haul in Tests.

Ian Bell was under way with a majestic cover-drive on the up off Harris (five for 44), and soon climbed into a cut for another boundary off the same bowler.

But the seamer wasted little time before proving he was too good for James Anderson - knocking out off-stump when the nightwatchman was stuck on the back foot to a delivery which perhaps kept a shade low too.

New batsman Matt Prior at least brought up the England hundred with a mistimed hook for six almost directly over the wicketkeeper's head off Harris.

Mitchell Johnson, the destroyer of England's first innings, was still bowling well enough to beat Bell more than once on the outside edge.

England's in-form batsman responded with more handsome driving through the off-side, only to miss a straight one from Harris as he tried to flick to leg at the other end.

The failed attempt to overturn the lbw decision on DRS was an understandable but desperate measure.

Just two balls later, Harris got one to kick wickedly at Prior - who could not ride the bounce and was caught in the gully.

Defeat moved closer still in the next over when Johnson claimed his ninth wicket of the match when Graeme Swann played onto his stumps attempting a drive.

Harris then sealed the victory when he induced an edge from Steven Finn that flew through to Steven Smith at third slip.
end

England captain Andrew Strauss is confident that the defeat will not cause panic in his side.

Strauss admitted the defeat was disappointing, particularly pointing at his side's failures with the bat after managing scores of 187 and 123, after their innings win in Adelaide a fortnight ago.

But the skipper believes that his team's performances in the first two Tests will ensure they will remain calm and confident that they can still retain the Ashes ahead of the Fourth Test in Melbourne.

"It's very disappointing defeat. No doubt about it," Strauss said. "We came fully expecting to play the same brand of cricket that we played in Adelaide.

"We were in a great position after bowling them out for 268 and then being 70-off for none in reply.

"The batting in both innings was sub-par.

"But we have to retain a sense of perspective. This result doesn't make us a bad team overnight. We need to retain the confidence we built from the first two Tests and come out all guns blazing in Melbourne.

"Now is not a time for panic. It is important to retain the method that's worked well."

There have been some calls for England to elevate in-form right-hander Ian Bell above Paul Collingwood to number five in the batting order, a notion Strauss said could come under consideration before the Boxing Day Test.

"I won't rule it out, we have to look on what we can do better," he said. "But ultimately this is not a time for panic, we have to keep a cool head."

Strauss also paid credit to Mitchell Johnson for turning the game Australia's way following his devastating spell on the second morning.

Johnson, recalled after missing the Adelaide Test, took nine wickets in the match after taking six for 38 in the first innings.

"In some ways you have to give Australia credit," Strauss added. "That spell from Mitchell Johnson on the second morning ripped apart our top order.

"We were always behind in game after that and credit to them for not letting us back in.

"The batting we have to say was not good enough. We have to learn from that and try and relate back to what we did well in Brisbane and Adelaide.

"If we can keep playing that same brand of cricket we have played in the majority of the series, then we have a great chance of retaining the Ashes."