Australia will resume at 6-171 on day three of the third Test, holding a 283-run lead.

A frenetic Friday, in which 16 wickets fell as Joe Root dropped a costly catch after the captain and his fellow batsmen dropped their bundle, proves that anything is possible in the match.

But Labuschagne, unbeaten on 53 after top-scoring in a third consecutive Australian innings, has hammered home his team's advantage after Hazlewood ignited a series-changing collapse of 10-57.

"I can't remember a day like this," Hazlewood said after snaring 5-30.

"When you wake up and see the sunshine (compared to overcast skies on day one), usually in England you think it's a great day for batting.

"The first hour was fantastic and we just kept building.

"Might be starting with a few scars there ... I don't think many teams are winning if one of their innings is 60 or 70 runs."

England fought hard with the ball, especially Ben Stokes during a marathon spell in the final session, but a couple of errors stalled their hopes of seizing momentum after Australia crashed to 3-52.

Stokes delivered 15.2 overs, with the only respite during that uphill stint being four deliveries from an overworked Jofra Archer that prompted the express paceman to limp into the rooms with cramp.

Archer returned to field later on Friday, with England confident the setback is nothing serious.

Root, earlier out edging to Hazlewood for a second-ball duck, almost bowled Stokes to breaking point.

The exhausted allrounder sat down after dismissing Matthew Wade for 33 rather than celebrating the wicket, which came one ball after stump microphones picked up him groaning "f***ing hell, this game" after a boundary.

It was a frustrating day for Stokes on several fronts, given his dismissal to James Pattinson was among the most cringe-worthy moments during the morning's chaos.

Stokes removed Wade and Travis Head, while he should have claimed the key scalp of Labuschagne.

Labuschagne was on 14 when Root fumbled a sitter at first slip off the bowling of Stokes, while he was on 42 when Jonny Bairstow put down a one-handed chance created by the same bowler.

Labuschagne would have been dismissed on 35 when Root reviewed a caught-behind shout off Stokes, but replays revealed it was a no-ball.

Tim Paine's team, who will retain the urn if they win at Headingley and take a 2-0 series lead, claimed a shock first-innings lead of 112 runs after embarrassing the home side in record-breaking fashion.

Joe Denly, the only Englishman to reach double figures, was out for 12 to set a new record for the lowest ever top score in a completed England Test innings.

It was England's lowest Ashes total since 1948.

Australian Associated Press