Third Test Match Perth Australia 244 (M E K Hussey 74 no, M S Panesar 5-92, S J Harmison 4-48) v England 51-2

MONTY Panesar led the England's fightback in the Ashes series with a five-wicket haul in the key third Test at the WACA.

The left-arm spinner claimed five for 92 on his belated entry into the series while Durham strike bowler Steve Harmison returned to form with four for 48 as Australia slumped to 244 all out.

It was an impressive response from an England side demoralised by their final day defeat in the previous Test at the Adelaide Oval, but by the close of the opening day Australia had hit back by reducing the tourists to a worrying 51 for two.

Panesar did not look back after claiming a wicket with his seventh ball in Ashes cricket to dismiss opener Justin Langer, who had shared a quickfire 47-run stand with Matthew Hayden after Australia won the toss and batted first.

He then removed dangerous strokemakers Andrew Symonds and Adam Gilchrist in successive overs and helped clean up Australias stubborn tail with the suddenly dynamic Harmison.

Harmison had built on an early breakthrough from Matthew Hoggard, who had Matthew Hayden caught behind, to trap in-form Australian captain Ricky Ponting lbw for two.

England could have made further inroads six overs later with Harmison inducing Langer into a push outside off-stump which he edged low to Flintoff at second slip but the captain was unable to hold the sharp chance.

However, Langer lasted only five overs more before being bowled playing down the wrong line to Panesar.

Mike Hussey, the only Australian to offer any sustained resistance and finished unbeaten on 74, forged an impressive 52-run stand spanning 17 overs.

But just as Australia began to set their sights on a competitive total, Harmison struck again by inducing Clarke into a mis-timed pull which he flat-batted back for a return catch.

All-rounder Symonds, playing his first Test in a year following the shock retirement of Damien Martyn, attempted an aggressive counter-attack and added 50 off 51 balls with Hussey.

But Symonds became Panesar's third victim when he attempted to cut off the back foot and instead edged behind where wicketkeeper Geraint Jones took the catch at the second attempt.

Dangerous strokemaker Adam Gilchrist fell in Panesar's next over, pushing forward and getting an inside edge onto his pad which looped up and allowed Ian Bell to take a diving catch from short leg.

Shane Warne played in a similar manner to Symonds, hitting 25 off only 23 balls before falling in an identical fashion with an edge behind trying to cut and Brett Lee was given leg before pushing forward down the pitch.

Harmison claimed the final two wickets in quick succession to finish off the innings and England began positively with a 36-run stand in only six overs.

That partnership was ended with the loss of two wickets in six balls with Alastair Cook edging Glenn McGrath low to gully and then Ian Bell nicking Brett Lee behind for a duck.