Ashes PHOTOS: Another English collapse puts Australia in command

Hosts Australia were closing in on a 5-0 Ashes sweep after demolishing England's batting and pushing their lead to 311 runs on Day Two of the fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Come Day Three and the Australians will be looking to claim only the third 5-0 series whitewash in Ashes history.

- Scorecard

The relentless Australians blasted out the hapless tourists for 155, the fifth time England had been dismissed for less than 200 in the series, and set their sights on batting them out of the game with three days left to play.

Australia's pace trio of Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle earlier took three wickets apiece as England narrowly avoided the follow-on in response to Australia's first innings score of 326.

Johnson now has 34 wickets for the series as he bids to become only the fourth Australian bowler to take 40 wickets or more in an Ashes series along with Terry Alderman (twice), Rodney Hogg and Shane Warne.

Ryan Harris was yet again impressive with the ball, finishing with figures of three for 36.

Alastair Cook (7) was out to the second ball of the day when the skipper was trapped leg before wicket by Harris without offering a shot.

Kevin Pietersen (3) was snapped up in the slips by Shane Watson off Harris, to leave the tourists 17-4.

The bowler returned to claim the wicket of Scott Borthwick (1).

Peter Siddle also contributed to Australia's cause.

The 29-year-old had figures of three for 23 to take his tally for the series to 16 wickets. 

Siddle also picked up the most vital wicket, getting past the defence of Ben Stokes (47).

It was Siddle's second wicket of his 12th over after having wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow (18) caught by Bailey, purposefully positioned at short mid-on, for 18, ending a 49-run stand with Stokes.

At stumps Australia were 140 for four with Chris Rogers, compiling his fourth half-century in five innings, on 73 and George Bailey not out 20.

The duo had added 49 runs in an unbroken fifth wicket stand.

The home side had, during the course of the day lost the wickets of David Warner (16), Shane Watson (9), skipper Michael Clarke (6) and Steve Smith (7) as England tried to restrict Australia's mushrooming lead on a flattening Sydney Cricket Ground pitch.

James Anderson was England's best bowler, with figures of two for 36.

The 31-year-old first had David Warner (16) out leg before and then had Shane Watson (9) caught behind. 

It too his tally for the series to 14 wickets. 

Stuart Broad and Ben Stokes picked up a wicket apiece.