JOIN USAustralia draw level in style
The touring side ended England's entertaining lower-order resistance 20 minutes after lunch on the third day, Mitchell Johnson bowling Graham Onions to dismiss the hosts for 263 and seal victory by an innings and 80 runs.
"We've played some good cricket here and I am very proud of the guys for bouncing back and playing so well," Australia captain Ricky Ponting said.
"All credit to our bowlers. They bowled brilliantly on the first day and that set it up for us. We dominated the match from the first ball."
Graeme Swann, who made 62, had shared a dazzling century partnership with Stuart Broad in the morning session to frustrate Australia and ensure that England avoided a record margin of defeat.
"We have to take this on the chin," England captain Andrew Strauss said. "This is no time to panic. We need to stay calm and make sure we get the game plan right for the Oval.
"If we are looking to make excuses, then we are barking up the wrong tree,” Strauss added. “It is hard to put a finger on why the performance was so bad.
"We didn't bat well enough on the first day, it was far below the level we should be playing at and we must learn lessons from it."
England resumed on 82 for five following their collapse on Saturday and nightwatchman James Anderson struck the second ball of the day for four but he edged the next one from Ben Hilfenhaus to Ponting at second slip.
Matt Prior played two sumptuous square drives for four but he fell for 22, nibbling at a Hilfenhaus outswinger and edging the ball to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin who took a brilliant diving catch.
Broad was dropped by Peter Siddle on 18, a very difficult chance at mid-off, and he struck several crisp boundaries including four in one over from Stuart Clark.
He reached his half-century, made from only 42 balls, with a crashing straight drive for four off Siddle and Swann also went on the attack, the pair adding 49 runs in three overs from Clark and Siddle.
Broad was dropped again on 53 by Johnson running back at long-off and Swann's quick single brought up the 100 partnership off 73 balls.
Broad survived yet again when Simon Katich failed to grasp another tough catch on the boundary but his luck finally ran out on 61 when he pulled Siddle and Shane Watson held the chance at deep square leg.
Swann continued to play his shots, reaching his half-century with a hook for six off Siddle and England took lunch on 245 for eight.
Swann was first to go after the interval, driving at a wide ball from Johnson to give Haddin an easy catch and Johnson clean bowled Onions for a duck to complete impressive figures of five for 69.
England went into the Test without either Kevin Pietersen or Andrew Flintoff, two men who had played such an influential role in their conquest of the Australians in the Ashes at home four years back.
Pietersen, one of the stars with the bat in a series England won 2-1, has been ruled out of the series after undergoing surgery, while Flintoff was forced to miss the fourth Test with a knee injury after failing a late fitness test.
Australia have been without pace spearhead Brett Lee for the first four Tests. Lee had been expected to return to action at Headingley, but a lack of match practice kept the New South Welshman on the sidelines yet again.
The series-deciding Test will begin at traditionally batting-friendly The Oval in London on Thursday, August 20.
SCORE BOARD
England (I Innings): 102 all out
Australia (I Innings): 445 all out
England (II Innings, O/n: 82/5):
Strauss lbw Hilfenhaus 32
Cook c Haddin b Johnson 30
Bopara lbw Hilfenhaus 0
Bell c Ponting b Johnson 3
Collingwood lbw Johnson 4
Anderson c Ponting b Hilfenhaus 4
Prior c Haddin b Hilfenhaus 22
Broad c Watson b Siddle 61
Swann c Haddin b Johnson 62
Harmison (not out) 19
Onions b Johnson 0
Extras (B-5, lb-5, W-5, nb-11) 26
Total (all out, 61.3 overs) 263
Fall of wickets: 1-58, 2-58, 3-67, 4-74, 5-78, 6-86, 7-120, 8-228, 9-259.
Bowling: Hilfenhaus 19-2-60-4, Siddle 12-2-50-1, Clark 11-1-74-0, Johnson 19.3-3-69-5.