Australia recovered from losing three quick wickets and were mounting a recovery through Steve Smith and Travis Head in their bid for a series-clinching win over England on the final day of the fifth Ashes test on Monday.

Chasing 384 to win the fifth Test and clinch the series 3-1, the Australians were 238-3 at lunch, needing 146 more runs over the last two sessions of Day 5 at The Oval.