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Australia closing on Ashes triumph

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PERTH, Australia -- Adam Gilchrist flayed England's attack for a 57-ball century and joined Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey in reaching three figures as Australia moved ever closer to regaining the Ashes.

Gilchrist and Clarke's unbeaten 162-run stand for the sixth wicket set up an Australian declaration on 527 for five before the close of the third day at the WACA in Perth.

England, needing an unlikely 557 for victory, lost opener Andrew Strauss in the first over to Brett Lee and have little chance of batting out for a draw after ending the day on 19 for one wicket.

Victory would give Australia an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-Test series after earlier wins in Brisbane and Adelaide.

England coach Duncan Fletcher said his team would not give up the coveted Ashes, won just 15 months ago with a 2-1 home series win over Australia, without a fight.

"We face a very, very difficult challenge but individuals will have to come here and do their best," he said.

"We've got to give credit to Adam Gilchrist. He came in and batted magnificently. He can do that. He can take the game away from you in an hour and he had two very, very good hours."

Wickets either side of tea with Hussey falling for 103 and Andrew Symonds for two, both to Monty Panesar, had given England a glimmer of hope, but it was shortlived as Gilchrist and Clarke ran riot.

Particularly severe

Gilchrist was particularly severe on Panesar, plundering 24 off an over by the left-arm spinner who claimed eight wickets on his Ashes Test debut with impressive accuracy and control.

Gilchrist narrowly missed out on the fastest century in Test history, a 56-ball effort by West Indies great Viv Richards, also against England in 1986.

He plundered 12 fours and four sixes in reaching his 17th Test ton and said afterwards he had no idea about the record.

"I've never known what the fastest Test century is to be honest," he said.

"I would have guessed that Viv Richards was in the mix somewhere but those sort of records are more associated with one-day cricket. If I knew I needed four to get it I might have had a whiff at that wide one from Matthew Hoggard."

Clarke, who had shared a 151-run partnership with the prolific Hussey for the fourth wicket, ended 135 not out with Gilchrist on 102 when skipper Ricky Ponting called a halt to the slaughter and declared.

England had plugged away in the morning and afternoon sessions with Panesar and paceman Steve Harmison impressive.

Matthew Hayden fell for 92 and Ponting for 75 before lunch on Saturday, after the experienced pair had added 144 for the second wicket to restore an innings jolted by the loss of Justin Langer to the first ball bowled by Hoggard.

But Hussey took the match away from England with an impeccable knock on a wicket still giving hope to the bowlers.

His century was his fifth -- he also has nine half centuries -- in 14 Tests and 23 Test innings and he has now scored at least a half century in his five innings in this series, a feat matched by no Australian batsman in 124 years.

Fine support

He found fine support from Clarke, whose place was under threat before the start of the series to all-rounder Shane Watson.

Watson broke down with a hamstring injury playing in a state match for Queensland on Saturday and is unlikely to play any further part in the series.

England also lost a key member of their squad when left-arm spnner Ashley Giles, replaced by Panesar after playing in the first two Tests, flew home to join his wife Stine who has fallen ill.

A statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board on Saturday said Stine Giles was "suffering from a potentially serious illness".

Giles will be replaced by Middlesex off spinner Jamie Dalrymple who was already a member of England's one-day squad.

Giles is the second England player to return home after opening batsman Marcus Trescothick walked out on the team before the first Test because of a stress-related illness.

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