Andrew Flintoff scored a swashbuckling century to revive England in the fourth Ashes Test on Friday before devastating swing bowling by Matthew Hoggard helped reduce the World champions to 99 for five.
Flintoff (102) put on 177 with Geraint Jones (85) for the sixth wicket to hoist England's total to 477 on the second day at Trent Bridge before Hoggard rediscovered his form to rip through the Australian top order.
To rub in their misery, Michael Clarke was dismissed with the final ball of the day by Steve Harmison.
Simon Katich was not out 20, with Adam Gilchrist next in with another 179 needed to avoid the follow-on.
The five-match series stands at 1-1 and England have to win it to regain the Ashes.
England have dominated the last two Tests and the trend continued at Trent Bridge.
At one stage Hoggard and Simon Jones took three wickets, all lbw, for two runs in 11 balls of high-class bowling to reduce Australia to 22 for three in the final session.
Hoggard and Jones set things up with four overs for a single run before Matthew Hayden prodded forward and was trapped in front by an inswinger for seven.
Ponting followed for one six balls later to another Jones inswinger and Damien Martyn made a single before Hoggard sent him back.
Television replays suggested Martyn got an inside edge first, which was harsh as he was given out as harshly in the same way in the third Test.
Hoggard later removed Justin Langer for 27 when the opener gloved an inswinger via his thigh to the diving Ian Bell at short leg, and Harmison's wicket at the close, another lbw decision, put the perfect gloss on England's day.
It was a timely return to form for Hoggard. Failing to find any swing in the first three Tests, his place in the side looked in jeopardy.
But he received a huge ovation on Friday evening after taking three for 32 in a marathon 11-over spell.
Flintoff had received even louder applause after his 102, his fifth hundred in Tests and first against Australia. It spanned three hours and 20 minutes and was buttressed by Jones's intelligent batting.
They make an odd couple, Flintoff dwarfing his team mate, but they like batting together, Flintoff battering and the England wicketkeeper scampering.
IN THE BALANCE
The game had looked in the balance at the resumption, England on 229 for four and Australia scenting a chance.
There would be only one wicket before lunch, however, Kevin Pietersen caught behind off Brett Lee for 45. When he was out in the fifth over of the day it was 241 for five and the door was ajar.
Flintoff slammed it shut. For several overs the all rounder lived dangerously, searching for the middle of his heavy bat.
It was Jones who settled things down, blocking the good balls and leaving the rest. When Lee overpitched, though, Jones sent the ball skimming though extra cover for one of the shots of the day.
Flintoff gradually found his rhythm and Warne's last delivery with the old ball disappeared over square leg for six.
The new ball went the same way, Flintoff smashing three further boundaries off one Shaun Tait over.
Lunch changed little as seamer Michael Kasprowicz was pulled and then driven off the back foot for three more fours in an over.
On 99, Flintoff played out a maiden to Warne, each ball greeted by gasps by the 16,000 sell-out crowd, then clipped the spinner for a single and raised both arms in triumph.
His departure, slogging across the line soon after, gave the 22-year-old Tait his third wicket on his debut.
That made it 418 for six. Jones, who batted almost three and a half hours, soon gave the lunging Kasprowicz a return catch as the innings subsided.
Warne mopped up the tail, taking four for 102, but it was a brief highlight for the tourists in another day dominated by England.