Perth:  Shane Warne sparked a dramatic collapse by the English tail as Australia closed to within one wicket of regaining the Ashes at lunch on the final day of the third Test at the WACA Ground.

Warne broke a troublesome 75-run sixth wicket stand when he bowled England captain Andrew Flintoff for 51, his 697th Test victim.

England were 336 for five before the dismissal but then lost four wickets for just ten runs as defeat loomed.

English wicketkeeper Geraint Jones is unlikely to retain his Test spot after he contributed to the collapse with a lapse in concentration that saw him get run out for his fourth successive duck of the tour.

At lunch on the final day, England were 349 for nine in their second innings, still 207 runs in arrears.

The pre-lunch collapse all but ended England's bid to hang on for a draw to keep the series alive, with Australia already leading the five-Test series 2-0.

Kevin Pietersen was not out on 59 with Monty Panesar on one.

The home side started the day needing just five more wickets to reclaim the Ashes but Flintoff and Pietersen offered plenty of early resistance.

The pair put on 75, with Flintoff living dangerously on several occasions and Pietersen almost run out by a quick thinking Mike Hussey at short-leg.

Flintoff reached his half-century with an inside edge for four, but then Warne struck a huge blow when the England skipper played all around a fullish delivery and was bowled.

Flintoff had been at the crease for 94 minutes, faced 67 balls and hit eight fours and one six in a much-improved showing with the bat.

England were 336 for six but worse was to come when Jones, their last recognised batsman, was caught out of his crease by an alert Ricky Ponting.

Jones attempted to sweep Warne and forgot to get back into his crease while the leg-spinner appealed.

Ponting pounced at silly mid-off and underarmed the ball into the stumps.

The England wicketkeeper's back foot was just outside the crease and he was given out by the third umpire as England slumped to 336 for seven.

Sajid Mahmood made just four before being trapped lbw by Stuart Clark, while Warne grabbed Test wicket 698 when he had Steve Harmison trapped lbw for a duck.

The run out of Jones means Warne cannot get his 700th Test wicket here, but he should certainly take it on his home ground at the MCG during the Boxing Day Test.