DURHAM paceman Steve Harmison finally found his fire and Monty Panesar grabbed a five-wicket haul to give England the edge in the third Test in Perth.

Harmison had taken one for 288 in the first two Tests but as soon as he grabbed the prized wicket of Ricky Ponting in the first session he returned to the form that got him to the top of the world rankings.

The Ashington Express ended with four for 48 but was still forced to play second fiddle to Panesar.

The Northants left-armer - controversially omitted from the first two Tests - proved his point straightaway to become the first English spinner to take five wickets in Perth.

Not even the peerless Shane Warne - Panesar's fourth victim - has taken five wickets in an innings at the WACA.

Panesar finished with five for 92 from 24 overs as England dismissed the hosts for a below-par 244.

Glenn McGrath and Brett Lee hit back in the final hour to take the wickets of Alastair Cook and Ian Bell as England closed on 51 for two.

But it was Panesar and England's day and he said: "It's nice people back home have been backing me.

"But the selectors know what they are doing and I trust their judgement and I guess they felt this was the right time to play me.

"You always want to play as much as you can, but what's best for the team is important as well.

"If you aren't playing it's important for a spinner to bowl as much as he can in the nets and I got a good spell in the two-day match so I was happy with my rhythm coming into the game.

"I bowled with a good rhythm and tried to get the ball in the right areas and it was very pleasing to get five wickets."

Panesar was recalled alongside Sajid Mahmood, with the ineffective Ashley Giles and James Anderson making way.

Australia elected to bat and raced to 47 without loss in the first hour, but the tourists fought back brilliantly.

Matthew Hoggard removed Matthew Hayden and Harmison trapped Ponting - who was averaging 149 in the series - for two.

Panesar then dismissed Justin Langer with his seventh Ashes delivery and didn't look back.

Michael Clarke joined former Durham captain Mike Hussey to add 52 for the fourth wicket but Harmison returned to the attack to make a vital breakthrough.

Clarke was threatening to ruin all of the tourists' good work but he tried one big shot too many and miscued an attempted pull off Harmison, with the paceman holding on to a sharp return catch.

Panesar then removed danger men Andrew Symonds and Adam Gilchrist to leave Australia six down at tea.

Hussey cracked the first ball after the interval to the boundary for his eighth Test 50 before Panesar wrote himself into the history books when he snapped up Warne and Lee.

Harmison returned to mop up the tail with the wickets of Stuart Clark and McGrath to leave Hussey stranded on 74 not out.

That left England a tricky 14-over spell to negotiate but Andrew Strauss and Cook started like a house on fire as they raced to 36 from six overs.

But the fireworks didn't last long with Cook again caught behind the wicket for 15.

Bell lasted just two balls before he edged Lee to Gilchrist and was dismissed without scoring.

It should have got worse for England when Paul Collingwood edged Clark to first slip, but Warne spilled the chance and England survived until the close.

Hussey, who plays his state cricket for Western Australia at Perth, warned the England batsmen they face a rough ride on the second day.

"All the English bowlers bowled well, particularly in the first session and we've got to do the same," said Hussey.

"Harmy and Monty bowled really well and I never really felt in on this wicket when I was facing them.

"If we can take some early wickets and get into their lower order that will put us in a good position."

''There wasn't a lot of spin out there so Monty bowled with good discipline and got the rewards.

''For a young spinner, which is a pretty tough art, he's got a good knowledge of his game and understands that discipline is a big thing for a spinner.'