Australia's no-mercy mauling of England will go into a fourth day in one of the most embarrassing mismatches in Ashes history.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting relished the chance of heaping more torture on the tourists on day three at the Gabba and will do so when his side builds on its monstrous 626-run lead.

Only a miracle England batting effort can prevent a huge Australian win, particularly against a rested Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne on a wicket worrying the tourists and likely to dry and crack even more over the next two days.

McGrath took 6-50 to cap a brilliant comeback after 10 months out of Test cricket which routed England for 157 and gave Australia a 445-run lead on the first innings.

But Ponting was mindful of resting his bowlers and having the luxury of using Warne last on a crumbling track.

He also became arguably the most merciless captain in Test history, as no other skipper has declined the follow-on option with such a big lead.

Batting a second time gave Australia another go at demoralising its rival and Justin Langer (88 not out), Ponting (51 not out) and Matthew Hayden (37) guided the home side to 1-181 after it posted 9(dec)-602 in the first dig.

The final session was so bereft of the intensity seen throughout last year's series that much of another capacity crowd left.

But then England's inability to extract the same venom McGrath and Stuart Clark (3-21) did was so remarkable one could swear groundstaff laid a different wicket at the change of innings.

McGrath again proved a man of his word after stating on day two he would "nail" England's bats, Ian Bell's composed 50 the only resistance.

The veteran paceman was unfazed at biding his time before he got another shot at the tourists, as Ponting's decision to build the lead not only took England out of the game, but made for more worrying over the wicket.

It could also be beneficial down the track, as the second Test starts in Adelaide on Friday.

"When we declared we were only two-and-a-half days through the Test match, so it's not how quickly you can win a Test match," McGrath said.

"We thought, let the bowlers freshen up a little bit even though we were keen to go again if required.

"The wicket itself, each day you can see it getting worse and worse, the cracks were opening up more and more today.

"Today we hit the cracks a few times so that will be playing on the English minds and the longer the game goes the tougher it's going to get batting."

If history is a guide, England is in for a hammering.

In the first Ashes Test of the 1928-29 series, at Brisbane's Exhibition ground, England captain Percy Chapman declined to enforce the follow-on despite his side leading by 399 runs.

Australia - including debutant Don Bradman - was twice bowled out cheaply and lost by a record 675 runs.

McGrath said the ease with which Australia overhauled England's 157 second time around would only add the tourists' troubled mindset.

"The fact we've gone out there and batted well and knocked off England's first innings (total) quite comfortably and quite quickly, that again will have a demoralising effect on the English batsmen," he said.

Although Australia's bowling was far superior, it was aided by two umpire decisions which went its way in the space of six balls.

McGrath removed Kevin Pietersen LBW even though the ball would have missed the stumps, although the England No.5 offered no shot.

Brett Lee then dismissed England's other key batsman, captain Andrew Flintoff, off a no-ball which umpire Steve Bucknor did not call.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP