Ashes 2017-18: Steven Smith’s Double Hundred, Mitchell Marsh's Resilience Seals day for Australia in Perth

While making the sumptuous meal out of the England’s bowling department at WACA in Perth on Saturday, the heroic stuff from Australian skipper Steven Smith and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh has piled up the misery for the visitors England on a flat-bedded surface, as the hosts finished the day three with satisfactory total of 549 for four in 152 overs.

Thoroughly dominating the day, Australian put the Three Lions on the backfoot and heaped pain on hapless-looking bowling arsenal which further genuinely went on to set firm grip on the ongoing Test, as the Kangaroos are already leading the traditional Ashes 2017-18 series by 2-0.

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The day was all about batting as Smith and Mitchell grabbed the headlines for punishing England bowlers at will throughout.

The fifth wicket stand has put hosts on top after the completion of day three which further saw Smith’s side taking the decisive first innings lead of 146.

However, in the morning session, Australia collected 111 runs and which further went on to unsettle the bowling combination of the visitors, as hosts batsmen batted on and on while rotating the strike and making most out of the loose deliveries.

The right-handed batsman Smith remained unbeaten on 229 runs after facing 390 balls as Mitchell will start the fourth day’s proceeding with his score of 181 after facing 234 balls.

Shoulder the responsibility; Smith struck 28 boundaries and a solitary maximum. He scored at the strike-rate of 58.72.

Incredible on the day, Mitchell proved his picking fruitful for the third Test while playing a significant knock and showing his intention early on, as he struck 29 boundaries and his strike-rate is 77.35.

The hosts added 346 on the day which saw them losing the solitary wicket of the 34-year-old left-handed Shaun Marsh when Australia’s score was 248 in 74.4 overs.

Following the overnight score of 203 for three, Smith alongside Shaun Marsh, added 69-run partnership in the morning session, before the latter was caught by England skipper Joe Root on the bowling of off-spinner Moeen Ali after scoring 28 off 75 deliveries.

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Interestingly, both Smith and Mitchell went on to smash hundreds before the enterprising skipper bringing up his second double hundred.

Smith and Mitchell further forged the remarkable partnership of unbeaten 301.

The 26-year-old local-lad Marsh silenced his critics while playing a patient knock which further saw him playing some delightful strokes around the dial, as he is on the verge of registering his first-ever double hundred while donning the white jersey for the national side.

Pertinently, Mitchell is making his Test return after undergoing major surgery and he went against English bowlers at his home ground which further saw his brother Shaun animated in the change room when he reached his maiden hundred earlier in the day.

Root used as many as seven bowlers, but so far Craig Overton has managed to pick two wickets after conceding 102 runs in 23 overs.

The bowling spearhead James Anderson gave away 85 runs in 29 overs, and he is yet to open his wickets column.

Stuart Broad alongside Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes has already conceded over hundred runs.