Australia are on the brink of a first Test annihilation of England at the Gabba and century-maker David Warner is saying the visitors have "scared eyes" and describes Jonathan Trott's efforts to thwart Mitchell Johnson as "pretty weak".

Smelling blood in the Queensland twilight on Saturday, Ryan Harris and Johnson left a rattled England on their knees. Set a winning target of 561 – nearly 150 runs more than the existing world record for a fourth-innings chase – the visitors' quixotic hopes of getting there or even hanging on, with the assistance of some extended inclement weather, were dealt a significant blow in a thrilling final hour of day three.

David Warner salutes the crowd after another good day's work. Credit:Tertius Pickard

Australia's position had been improved immeasurably by a 25th career hundred by their captain, Michael Clarke, and a first Ashes ton for Warner, who combined to all but bat Alastair Cook's weary side into oblivion.

In the fading light there was more drama to come. England crashed to 2-10 in their second innings and threatened to roll over before lunch on Sunday. Opener Michael Carberry (0) was unlucky, blocking a ball from Harris only to have it go between his legs into the stumps, but Trott (9) was unnerved and undisciplined, trying to wriggle out of his funk against Johnson by clubbing the left-armer but inevitably holing out in the deep.