Australia on the brink of retaining the Ashes with clean sweep on the horizon after Nathan Lyon's dominant day

ADELAIDE: England is now staring down the very real possibility of an Ashes clean sweep with Australia on the brink of retaining the urn at Adelaide.

The visitors finished day four of the third Test 6-207, needing 228 runs to win.

Nathan Lyon was the inspiration for Australia, taking three wickets late to put England in a major hole.

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Australia started the day at 4-271 with Alex Carey not out on 52 while Travis Head was on 142.

Before lunch, the side was bowled out for 349, setting England a total of 435 to win.

The Aussies had two overs at the visitors before the break, and Ben Duckett was walking off after an awful dismissal.

The opener hit Pat Cummins for a boundary through mid-wicket with his first delivery and then edged behind to Marnus Labuschagne with a ball he didn't need to play at.

England was in more trouble after the break when Labuschagne caught a one-handed screamer to dismiss Ollie Pope for 17.

Joe Root and Zak Crawley combined for 78 runs before Root (39) was gone, dismissed by Pat Cummins for the 13th time.

Another partnership was formed between Harry Brook and Crawley, but Brook became Nathan Lyon's first victim when he was bowled reverse sweeping.

That left England 4-177 before Ben Stokes (5) and Crawley (80) all added to Lyon's tally.

"They're unstoppable," Adam Gilchrist said on Fox Cricket after Crawley's departure.

"They are racing to the urn."

Will Jacks finished 11 not out while Jamie Smith is on 2.

Rain is forecast for Sunday morning in Adelaide, but Australia only needs to draw this Test to retain the Ashes.