Untouchable Ricky Ponting sent Australia freewheeling towards its eighth consecutive Ashes series victory against England during a hectic opening to the third cricket Test in Perth.

Ponting had breezed to 43 not out by stumps on the first day as Australia's batsmen tucked into an England team which had been floored by recharged paceman Brett Lee.

Australia will start the second day at 2-126 in its first innings, already closing on England's 185 after the tourists won the toss and chose to face Lee first-up on the bouncy WACA Ground wicket.

And England's wretched injury problems could continue with recalled paceman Chris Silverwood undergoing a scan tonight on an ankle injury.

With pace spearhead Andrew Caddick ruled out with a back complaint, England could not believe its bad luck when Silverwood twisted his ankle late in the day.

Its day began on a bad note when Lee (3-78) struck twice in his first spell with some express bowling, justifying the decision to recall him to Test cricket after two matches as 12th man.

He claimed Nasser Hussain for eight to a catch behind and, while the England captain appeared unhappy with the decision, he deserved to go after playing a hook shot which belonged in a desperate one-day match.

Australia again showed Hussain and England how to bat fast and bat well, charging to 50 in the eighth over and 100 in the 15th over against three pace bowlers who have played a combined 16 Tests.

It's hard enough for the world's best bowlers to tame Ponting and Matthew Hayden (30 from 42 balls) at the moment and England can only pray for rain or a cricketing miracle to avoid another heavy defeat inside the distance.

Ponting, Hayden and Justin Langer (19 from 19 balls) batted like men late for dinner engagements but the frenetic pace brought about the downfall of the openers.

Langer was run out attempting a third run when Silverwood ran from fine leg to deep backward square leg before unleashing a bullet-like return to wicketkeeper Alec Stewart.

Hayden fell to a miscued pull shot from Steve Harmison (1-26), giving the tireless Barmy Army reason to sing yet another song when Alex Tudor accepted a catch metres away from them on the fine leg fence.

But Ponting, following his 123 in Brisbane and 154 in Adelaide, made the tourists stew again.

He finished the night just 12 runs short of 1,000 for the calendar year and with a reputation that has blossomed since his excellent 100 not out in Cape Town in March.

He appears almost invincible against England this summer, giving the tourists the smallest of hopes when he hooked Harmison towards Tudor at fine leg.

But Tudor only turned to watch the ball sail rows back into the redeveloped WACA Ground stands, which could be empty on the fourth day if the current pace continues.

England found batting more difficult against Australia's relentless pressure, with Lee providing the entertainment alongside the usual display from Glenn McGrath (2-20), Jason Gillespie (2-43) and Shane Warne (1-32).

Lee struck first when Marcus Trescothick (34) edged a catch to wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist and England never recovered, losing Michael Vaughan (34), Mark Butcher (nine) and Alec Stewart (seven).

"I felt pretty good and it felt like I had some pretty good rhythm," Lee said.

"I had some trouble early because my spikes kept sliding through but I felt more comfortable after that."

Only young batsman Robert Key looked comfortable with an impressive 47 before he provided part-time bowler Damien Martyn with just his second Test wicket in the last over before tea.

Key had lofted Warne over the long-off fence in one of the best shots of the day while surviving the best of Lee, McGrath and Gillespie, before he chopped the fifth delivery from Martyn onto his stumps.

"Facing someone bowling 95 miles an hour and then someone 60, you think 'happy days - I'll smash a few out of the park'," Key said.

"That's probably where I slipped up."

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