Matt Prior scored the third hundred of the innings before England was dismissed for 644 shortly after lunch today.
In response, Shane Watson was needlessly run-out for 38 after an embarrassing mix-up with opening partner Phil Hughes with the Australian total at 46. Hughes (13) was caught behind after a period of sustained pressure by paceman Tim Bresnan.
At tea on day four, Australia was 77-2 with stand-in skipper Michael Clarke on 19 and Usman Khawaja on four. The Pakistan-born Khawaja, who is making his test debut, has faced 36 balls.
England has a 2-1 series lead and has already retained the Ashes. It is closing in on its first test series win in Australia since 1987.
Australia needed quick wickets today to have any chance of winning at the Sydney Cricket Ground and leveling the five-match series, but the bowling attack had no penetration as England surpassed its previous highest total in Australia - the 636 which Wally Hammond's lineup scored in the 1928-29 series at the SCG.
Alastair Cook (189) and Ian Bell (115) scored centuries yesterday and Prior continued the batting onslaught.
The wicketkeeper-batsman scored 118 and shared a 102-run stand for the eighth wicket with Bresnan (35), who batted for almost two hours today until he edged a Mitchell Johnson delivery to Michael Clarke at second slip.
Graeme Swann finished unbeaten on 36 when Chris Tremlett was dismissed for 12, ending a 35-run last wicket stand.
The visitors resumed today at 488-7 after batting all day yesterday when Cook took his series tally to 776 runs to become the second-highest English run scorer in an Ashes series in Australia. Hammond scored 905 in 1928-29.
Prior wasted no time reaching his fourth test hundred, hitting Steven Smith for a boundary to bring up triple figures from 109 balls before he was caught behind chasing a wide Ben Hilfenhaus delivery.
Australia finally got the benefit of a TV umpire's review, with umpire Billy Bowden referring Prior's dismissal to the third official to check for a Hilfenhaus no-ball.
After several minutes, the TV umpire Tony Hill ruled that part of Hilfenhaus' front foot did touch down behind the crease. The Australians had a similar decision go against them when Cook was on 46 and miscued a catch off left-arm spinner. Bowden referred the decision to Hill, who adjudged a no-ball based on video replays.
Johnson conceded 20 runs in one over as Swann chased quick runs, another low point for the Australian attack in a demoralizing series. Johnson's figures were 4-168 from 36 overs, while Hilfenhaus had 3-121.
