At tea, on the third day of the fourth Ashes Test, Australia were 115 for one, still 144 runs behind England's first innings 477 after being bowled out for 218.

Langer was 54 not out off 99 balls with seven fours and Australia captain Ricky Ponting unbeaten on 28 as England chased a 2-1 lead in the five-match contest and their first Ashes series win since 1986-87.

Australia, 14 without loss at lunch, got through the second session for the loss only of Matthew Hayden.

Langer's fellow left-handed opener edged a drive off pace-bowling all-rounder Andrew Flintoff on 26 and saw Ashley Giles at third slip take a sharp catch to leave Australia 50 for one.

That should have become 79 for two when Langer was dropped on 37 by second slip Andrew Strauss, who'd earlier taken a brilliant catch, off Flintoff.

After 77 overs of pace, left-arm spinner Giles came on for his first bowl of the match with Australia 100 for one but had a mere two overs before tea.

Reverse swing specialist Simon Jones was Australia's tormentor in chief when play resumed Saturday, taking five for 44 in 14.1 overs, including two wickets in two balls.

Australia, who began the day on 99 for five, finished 60 short of the follow-on target of 278.

It was the first time Australia had been asked to follow-on in 191 Tests since Pakistan beat them by an innings and 188 runs at Karachi in 1988.

Tail-ender Brett Lee held England up with a whirlwind 47 off 45 balls featuring three sixes and five fours.

Lee was last man out, well caught at third man by a running Ian Bell after uppercutting a Jones bouncer as Australia lost their last five wickets in all Saturday for 61 runs in 65 balls.

Left-handers Simon Katich and Adam Gilchrist, the duo at the crease when play began Saturday, shared a run-a-ball stand of 58 but that ended soon after Jones came on in the 10th over of the day.

Jones' second ball saw Katich, on 45, fall into a trap when he guided a wide delivery to Strauss at backward point, one of two men in that region.

Next delivery Shane Warne went for nought. Trying to turn Jones leg-side, he got a leading edge and gave Bell an easy catch at short cover.

Australia were now 157 for seven and declined to 163 for eight when Strauss, diving full length to his left at second slip, took a one-handed airborne catch to remove dangerman Gilchrist, off Flintoff, for 27.

Lee as he'd done already this series, endured some painful blows from Flintoff, whose maiden Ashes century of 102 was the centrepiece of England's imposing total.

But Lee hit back by pulling fast bowler Stephen Harmison for a huge six and launching Jones straight for another before driving Harmison out of the ground over mid-wicket.