Steven Finn's five wickets put England on the verge of a 2-1 Ashes lead over Australia after just two days of the third Test at Edgbaston.
Finn, deemed "not selectable" on the 2013-14 tour Down Under, took 5-45 on another enthralling day's cricket under sunny skies in Birmingham as Australia closed on 168-7, just 23 runs ahead in the second innings.
It was not all good news for England, however, as they saw James Anderson - on his 33rd birthday - forced off the field with a tight side.
As the match continued apace, England were grateful to 63 from Joe Root and Moeen Ali's fluent 59 as they reached 281 all out, a lead of 145.
In reply, David Warner was the only Australian to counter England's bowling with a rapid-fire 77, while Peter Nevill showed battling qualities with a gritty 37 not out.
It looks highly unlikely to be enough for the tourists, though, with England firm favourites to secure a 2-1 scoreline with two Tests to play.
Resuming just three runs in arrears on 133-3, England soon found themselves under pressure as Mitchell Johnson (2-66) produced two brutish short deliveries to remove Jonny Bairstow (5) - his 300th Test scalp - and Ben Stokes (0) in the second over of the day.
Despite the struggles of his team-mates, Root looked in glorious touch, but he drove loosely at Mitchell Starc (2-71) and was caught at slip.
Jos Buttler (9) went lbw to Nathan Lyon (3-36), opting not to review when replays showed the decision would have been overturned, before Moeen and Stuart Broad turned the tide.
Either side of lunch, the pair added 87 for the eighth wicket, Moeen hitting Johnson out of the attack before Josh Hazlewood (3-74) had Broad caught at mid-on for 31.
Moeen then sliced the same bowler down to third man, and Starc removed Anderson (3) as England's last three wickets fell for four runs.
As in the first innings, Broad (1-36) pinned Chris Rogers (6) lbw from around the wicket and for the second time in the match Finn ousted Steve Smith (8), who top-edged a pull shot.
In his first over after tea, Finn had both Michael Clarke (3) and Adam Voges held in the slips off successive deliveries, before Mitchell Marsh saw off the hat-trick ball.
Marsh did not last much longer, however, Finn pushing one through his defences for six and the superb innings of Warner came to an end when he got a leading edge off Anderson (1-15).
Anderson's injury then forced him out of the action before, with the first ball of his new spell Finn had Johnson (14) caught at point as England moved to the brink of victory.