Australia continued to dominate England with bat and ball at the home of cricket on Saturday, building a 362-run lead at stumps on day three of the second Ashes Test.

The tourists rolled England for 312 shortly after tea at Lord’s then reached 0-108 in their second innings to hold a massive lead of 362 runs.

Michael Clarke’s men have an ideal platform to level the series after being hammered in Cardiff.

Clarke is likely to declare on Sunday, the timing of which will be crucial given there are few demons in the pitch and rain predicted for days four and five.

Adam Lyth put down a catch at gully when David Warner was on zero, but otherwise it was a chance-less opening partnership.

Warner will resume on 60 not out, while Chris Rogers is unbeaten on 44.

Australia bowled with great discipline to turn the screws after England started the day at 4-85.

Ben Stokes survived all but three overs of the morning session in his 145-run stand with Alastair Cook.

Mitch Marsh (2-23) removed Stokes for 87, then dismissed Cook late in the second session for 96.

Both left-handers played on, attempting to drive.

Cook, having endured a frustrating two days in the field as Australia amassed a first-innings total of 8(dec)-566, spent almost six hours at the crease.

The scalp of Cook, when the second new ball was about to be taken, triggered a collapse of 4-46.

Clarke was miffed in the second session when he thought Peter Nevill claimed a remarkable catch to dismiss Jos Buttler for nine.

Third umpire Chris Gaffaney overruled Kumar Dharmasena’s on-field verdict, claiming there was conclusive evidence it scraped the turf.

It mattered little, Buttler added four runs before walking when he feathered an edge to Nevill from Nathan Lyon (1-53).

Josh Hazlewood finished with 3-68 and Mitchell Johnson 3-53.

Australia’s biggest concern was Adam Voges’ hip injury.

Voges, who suffered a painful blow while fielding at short leg on day two, remained in the changerooms throughout day three.

Mitchell Starc received treatment on his back, but was able to bowl.

Clarke opted against enforcing the follow-on, wanting his bowling attack to rest before they seek to square the ledger after a 169-run loss in the first Test.

Based on the past 120 years, a draw is all England can achieve in this contest.

With the exception of a timeless Test at the SCG in 1894, no side has ever posted such a high first-innings total then lost the game.

However, the resistance of Cook and Stokes and ease at which Warner and Rogers scored will boost England’s hopes of salvaging a draw.