A key partnership between Scott Boland and Brendan Doggett set up a blistering final session on day three of the second Ashes Test.

Batting at ten and eleven, Boland and Doggett - the only two Indigenous players to play together in the same Australian test XI in recorded history - dug in for more than seven overs, adding 20 to the Australian total and forcing England to start their second innings under lights, with the ball hooping around.

Boland, Mitchell Starc and Michael Neser made the most of the conditions, taking two wickets a piece as England slumped to 6/134 at stumps, still 43 behind.

Boland took the key wicket of danger man Harry Brook as well as England opener Ben Duckett.

Earlier, the Gulidjan quick faced 72 deliveries in total, anchoring one end while Starc top scored for Australia with 77 at the other on the way to a first innings total of 511.

After day three, Boland told the host broadcaster: "We just wanted to put as many balls in the right area as we could."

"I think we bowled really well. They always play their shots, and I feel like this kind of wicket, with some up and down, if we put as many balls in the right areas they're going to give you some chances," he said.

"Nes held on to a couple of great catches to get us going."

He said batting for time was his and Doggett's "main objective - get some overs into the England bowlers but also to stretch out our bowling into the night session".

Boland praised Starc's "awesome" batting.

In the first innings, Worimi paceman Doggett ended England's stubborn 70-run final wicket partnership by removing Jofra Archer, with England all out for 334. Boland also picked up one wicket in the first dig, with Starc causing mayhem with 6/75.