Australia squared the series at 1-1 and sent the Ashes to its first deciding fifth Test since 1966 after defeating England in the fourth Test at Headingley by a convincing innings and 80 runs.

Requiring only five wickets for victory on the third day, Australia took until just after lunch to finally overcome some cheeky tail-end resistance and bowl England out for 263.

The win sets up a gripping fifth and final Test match at The Oval in 10 days' time, with Australia needing only a draw in that match to retain the urn after a 5-0 sweep at home last series.

England was in danger of falling to its heaviest home Ashes defeat when Ben Hilfenhaus removed Jimmy Anderson with the third ball of the morning before claiming the scalp of Matt Prior on 22 after a spectacular diving catch by Brad Haddin.

But Stuart Broad (61) and Graeme Swan (62) put England on the offensive with a mix of lusty and confident strokeplay that was noticeably absent from its middle order.

Broad and Swan put on 108 runs from 75 balls for the eighth wicket as they sent the Australian seamers to all parts, much to the delight of the Leeds crowd.

The explosive pair helped the hosts pile on an unlikely 163 runs for the loss of three wickets in just 24 first-session overs.

Broad smashed 10 fours in his fourth Test half-century before finally holing out to Peter Siddle at deep mid wicket while Swan was unluckily given out caught behind from Mitchell Johnson after the luncheon break.

Advantage Australia

Johnson ended the innings with 5 for 69 with fellow destroyer and series leading wicket taker Hilfenhaus returning figures of 4 for 60 to establish themselves as Australia's premier pace pair.

The usually economical Stuart Clark came in for the most stick, similar to what he dished out with the bat before tea on day two, finishing with embarrassing figures of 0 for 74 from 11 overs.

Marcus North was named man-of-the-match after his 110 in Australia's first innings of 445, his second century of the series.

The Australian triumph continues what has been a rollercoaster series of momentum.

England celebrated like it was a victory after holding on for a draw in the first Test at Cardiff before dominant displays at Lord's and Edgbaston seemingly put the pressure squarely on holders Australia.

But the riposte from Ricky Ponting's men has been swift and impressive on the back of a marvellous performance on day one to bowl England out for 102 before skittling their opponents again just five sessions later.

Ponting said he could not have asked for anything more from his team.

"To bowl England out for 100 is obviously where the game has been won," he said.

"But when we had our chance to bat we really put our foot on their throats and we kept them down and really demoralised them.

"Then when we had our chance to bowl again we were spot on again."

Selection dramas

Whilst Australia is likely to stick with its winning XI for The Oval barring any unforseen injury concerns, England has a myriad of selection headaches - not least the fitness of spearhead Andrew Flintoff.

The 31-year-old Flintoff will be given every chance to inspire England in his final ever Test should he recover from the very knee injury that is ending his career.

But the hosts' real worries lie in its porous middle order without centrepiece Kevin Pietersen, with Ravi Bopara, Ian Bell and Paul Collingwood contributing only 16 runs total from both innings at Headingley.

It was the worst ever performance by England's middle order in Test history and first time in 121 years the number three, four and five batsmen each failed to make double figures in each innings.

England skipper Andrew Strauss said it was still no time to panic.

"It's pretty hard to take. We didn't really turn up at this game and we've got to take it on the chin," he said.

"That [middle order collapse] wasn't ideal, that's something we have to look at.

"The players have to ask themselves why that happened and as a batting unit we have to decide whether we did things the right way in preparation for the game."

A defendable suggestion would be to reverse the English line-up to promote Prior, Broad and Swan who have helped the bottom five score nearly as many runs as their top order team-mates in the series.

Strauss is the only English batsman to feature in the top six runscorers after four Tests.

South African-born Jonathan Trott and Robert Key appear to be next in line should England's selectors decide to wield the axe.

England will take some solace from the fact it has won 15 and lost six of the 34 meetings against Australia at The Oval.

Australia will play an England Lions team in a two-day tour match starting on August 15 in Kent.