A resurgent Australia levelled the Ashes with a comprehensive 267-run victory on the fourth day of the third Test against England at the WACA Ground yesterday.

Set 391 to win, England resumed at 81-5 and offered little resistance, lasting just 10 overs and less than hour into the opening session, as bustling seamer Ryan Harris ran through the tail to finish with a career-best 6-47 in his fourth Test, dismissing the tourists for a mere 123.

Only days ago Australia were consumed by self-doubt in the face of a rampant English side anticipating their first series victory Down Under for years, but the scene is now set for a Boxing Day blockbuster in Melbourne.

One downside for the Australians was a finger injury to captain Ricky Ponting, who added fitness concerns to his form woes and watched from the pavilion as his side completed the victory.

Ponting suffered a fracture of his left little finger trying to complete a slips catch late on day three, but said he expected to be fit to play in the fourth Test in Melbourne, starting on Sunday.

“I will have as much treatment and look after it as well as I can for the next few days,” Ponting, who has just 83 runs at 16.60 in the series, said.

“I think I am a really good chance of playing. It is only a small fracture, it is a bit sore and angry at the moment, but I’ll be right.”