Australia took four England wickets for the loss of 22 runs in a devastating 40-minute spell after lunch on day three of the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne.
The tourists resumed on 54-0 with Alastair Cook (51) and Michael Carberry at the crease, but the skipper was trapped lbw by Mitchell Johnson in the third over after reaching his second half-century of the match.
Joe Root (15) was given out when it sounded like he edged the Aussie paceman behind, but Aleen Dar's decision was overturned when the Yorkshireman called for a review.
However, when Carberry (12) was caught lbw by Peter Siddle, it sparked a swing in momentum that saw three wickets lost with only one run added to the total.
Root was the next to go thanks to some fine fielding from Johnson, who shied at the stumps after being picked out at mid-off.
Ian Bell then departed for a golden duck, with Johnson taking an easy catch after the batsman prodded Nathan Lyon's delivery in the air.
Ben Stokes (13) and Kevin Pietersen (15) will come back out after tea with England 115-4 and leading by 166 runs.