Australia Weather News

Australia's quest to regain the Ashes has been halted by bad weather on day five of the third test in Perth as a freak storm more commonly seen in winter whips through the South West of WA.

England is 4/132 in its second innings, still needing another 127 runs to make Australia bat again.

But the biggest hurdle to the hosts notching a series-clinching victory in Perth looks set to be intermittent rain.

Before the start of play a freak gust of wind lifted the covers off the wicket, knocking over a groundsman and almost injuring England captain Joe Root.

"Look at that can you believe it? It was quite lucky for everyone really. A big gust of wind. Have a look at that," said commentator Shane Warne.

That incident left a large amount of water on the wicket itself, with ground staff forced to use leaf blowers to dry out the wet patch.

The weather has been blown in by a deep low pressure system, which saw almost twice the December average rainfall fall on the city in less than 24 hours.