A stunning career-best return from Stuart Broad and a superb century from Joe Root put England in complete control of the fourth Ashes Test against Australia at Trent Bridge on Thursday.
Nottinghamshire paceman Broad stole the show at his home ground on day one by tearing through the tourists' batting order as Michael Clarke's men were all out for a miserly 60 in the morning session from just 111 deliveries - the quickest first innings in a Test.
Root (124 not out) then did the damage with the bat, the vice-captain - whose knock put him top run scorer for the series at an average of over 80 - combining brilliantly with fellow Yorkshireman Jonny Bairstow (74) in a stand of 173 as England reached 274-4 at stumps to lead by 214.
Broad's devastating spell saw him surpass 300 Test wickets and he reached his five-for in 19 deliveries - the joint-quickest five-wicket haul in Test history - as Australia, beaten inside three days at Edgbaston last week, failed to deal with swing and movement off the pitch.
Mitchell Starc (3-73) bowled well in spells for the tourists, but Root piled on the misery with a wonderful knock despite some discomfort in his back to leave Australia needing a remarkable fightback to have any chance of avoiding going 3-1 down with one Test to play - and losing the urn.
The cricketing Gods were on England's side from the start as captain Alastair Cook won the toss and opted to bowl.
By the end of the first over, Broad had Chris Rogers - who fell for his first Test duck - and Steven Smith (6) caught in the slips, before David Warner (0) nicked Mark Wood (1-13) - in for the injured James Anderson - behind.
It was no better for Shaun Marsh (0), playing in place of his brother Mitchell, before Broad struck again to snare Adam Voges (0) - courtesy of a stunning Ben Stokes catch, and the five-for arrive when the out-of-form Clarke slashed wildly to Cook in the slips.
Steven Finn bowled Peter Nevill for two, and Broad swept up Starc (1), Mitchell Johnson (13) and Josh Hazlewood (4).
In the afternoon session, Root and Cook (43) put on 62 after Adam Lyth (14) fell to an all too familiar fate by edging Starc behind, before Ian Bell (1) went lbw soon after.
Cook was trapped in front by Starc shortly before lunch, but Root and Bairstow batted brilliantly in the final session.
Root picked his moments to attack, emphasised by a lovely drive off the back foot off Starc, and brought up his 50 with a perfectly executed chop through the gully.
Back-to-back fours off Johnson (0-71) took Root into the 90s and he brought up the hundred partnership with Bairstow, before reaching his ton when he punched Warner through backward point.
Bairstow also showed the sort of form that has seen him excel in first-class cricket this season, and two boundaries off Johnson helped him settle at the crease.
He reached his half-century when he feathered Starc past Nevill as a delighted Trent Bridge crowd sounded their appreciation.
Bairstow failed to make it to the close after hitting Hazlewood (1-63) to Rogers at square leg, leaving Root and nightwatchman Mark Wood (2no) to see the hosts through to stumps.