Ashes 2017: Five key moments from Day Three as Steve Smith massacres the England attack and Mitch Marsh proves Test worth

ENGLAND were blown away on Day Three at the WACA as Australia closed on 549-4 following an incredible stand from Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh.

Just one wicket fell all day as the Aussies took advantage of a flat pitch – with Smith closing on 229* and the hugely impressive Marsh hitting a maiden Test hundred.

EPA

Here are five key moments from a day that England will want to forget.

Captain fantastic

STEVE SMITH began the day in the 90s – and wasted no time in ticking off his 22nd Test ton.

England didn’t bowl well to him early, allowing the Aussie skipper to manipulate easy runs off his pads.

And that was how he brought up the milestone, clipping away through midwicket.

His celebrations suggested he felt there was plenty more to come.

Shaun in a spin

ENGLAND took just ONE wicket during a torrid day in the field.

So in 90 overs – or 540 balls – just the one made it through Australia’s defences.

Moeen Ali deserved it for his early endeavour, giving it a nice bit of flight and catching Shaun Marsh’s edge.

It was the only thing England had to cheer all day.

Marsh proves his worth

PLENTY had been written in the Aussie press before this match about the inclusion of Mitchell Marsh.

Averaging in the mid-20s at Test lvel, he came out in the middle following the dismissal of his brother and with a bit of pressure on Australia.

300 runs later – of which 181 were from his bat – he has a maiden Test century, his team have a massive lead and the Western Australia product has proved all the doubters wrong.

Just look at the reaction as he reached that first hundred on home turf.

Smith at the double

IN the 390 balls that Steve Smith faced, he played and missed just four.

That’s absolutely unbelieveable.

England never looked like getting the Australian captain out – and as the day wore on, he continued to score at a decent lick.

All you could do was admire the greatest batsman in the world as he brought up his double-hundred with yet another elegant flick off the pads.

Dance your troubles away

ENGLAND’s fans may have endured one of the most one-sided days in Ashes history.

But that doesn’t stop the Barmy Army.

In the final over, with Smith on 229* and Marsh on 181*, they started this conga.

Best fans in the world.

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