Mitchell Johnson triggered a woeful collapse from India, but Australia also had their own worries with the bat on day four of the second Test.
The hosts progressed to 2-25 at tea on Saturday, having been set a victory target of 128 runs at the Gabba.
David Warner was out for six and struggled to bat after being struck on the thumb by a nasty ball from Umesh Yadav that rocketed off the pitch.
Shane Watson managed an eighth-ball duck, becoming Ishant Sharma’s second victim when he top-edged a bouncer.
Johnson snared four wickets, including three in 10 minutes during the morning session, as India were rolled for 224.
The tourists resumed at 1-71 on Saturday, their woes starting before play when opener Shikhar Dhawan was hit on the wrist in the nets and retired hurt.
India slumped to 5-87 in the space of 6.2 overs, Johnson’s pace and bounce removing Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma.
Dhawan returned to the crease, counter-attacking the hosts with bat and mouth.
The left-hander, fined for his role in a heated confrontation during the first Test, exchanged sharp words with Watson and Warner when the teams walked off at lunch.
The opener raced to 81, surviving a run-out opportunity on 48 when he momentarily scrambled forward after defending the ball back to Johnson.
Nathan Lyon engineered the key breakthrough, Dhawan missing a sweep shot to be trapped lbw.
Yadav crashed two sixes off Lyon in a quick-fire 30, but India’s second innings ended when he became Johnson’s fourth scalp.
Johnson clubbed 88 off 93 balls on Friday, turning the match on its head and lifting Australia to a first-innings lead of 97 runs.
The left-armer, who went wicketless in the first innings at the venue for the first time since 2010, then sparked his side with the ball.
Rahane popped up a catch to Lyon at gully, while Sharma was caught behind.
On both occasions, third umpire Simon Fry took his time checking for a no-ball with Johnson’s foot barely behind the paint.
“I actually thought the second one – it may have been very touch and go,” injured quick Ryan Harris said, while calling the game for ABC radio.
“There was a bit of debate in our room whether there was anything behind, but the umpires made the decision. It was a good decision.”
Captain MS Dhoni lasted two deliveries, trapped lbw by debutant Josh Hazlewood, while Ravichandran Ashwin was unlucky to be judged caught behind on 19.
India were in real need of a big partnership between their last two recognised batsmen, but Hazlewood’s steepling bounce was the undoing of Cheteshwar Pujara on 43.
