Chris Woakes admits Australia are on top but says England have put the pressure on in Adelaide

Chris Woakes says Australia remain on top in the second Ashes Test but believes that England's late wickets have "put some pressure back on Australia".

After James Anderson had dismissed Cameron Bancroft and Usman Khawaja, Woakes claimed the two big wickets of David Warner and Steve Smith to reduce Australia to 53-4 at the close.

While England's bowlers provided the tourists with a positive end to day three in Adelaide, Australia hold a commanding 268-run lead with six wickets remaining after skittling Joe Root's side for 227 earlier in the day.

"I think we've fought back well, we've pushed Australia back tonight which is good to see and we can take some positive stuff from that," Woakes told reporters.

"Obviously, we're behind in the game but at the same time, it's really good that we've fought back and shown some good character to get ourselves back in the game.

"I thought we bowled really well tonight as a unit and put some pressure back on Australia. We had to stay patient and consistently put the ball in the right areas. That was it, really.

"Anything's chaseable. We have to make use of those sessions in normal daylight. It's always going to be tricky batting under the lights."

Woakes also played with the bat, scoring 36 as he shared an eighth-wicket partnership of 66 with Craig Overton, who top-scored with an unbeaten 41 on debut.

"Obviously going to the crease when Australia were clearly on top, it was good to build a partnership with Craig [Overton] - I thought he batted beautifully on debut in an Ashes Test," Woakes added.

"Coming to the crease and getting plenty of verbals, as you'd expect, and plenty of short stuff, I thought he coped with it really well.

"We obviously built a good partnership and applied ourselves pretty well. I was pretty annoyed with myself for the way I got out, I feel like I left a few out there but at the same time, it was a good partnership and I enjoyed it."

The 28-year-old Warwickshire seamer was also asked about the sledging between the two sides, in particular an incident involving Peter Handscomb at the end of day three.

"What did he do? It's Ashes cricket and you're expecting that, as I mentioned, there are plenty of verbals out on the field," Woakes said.

"I honestly don't think there is anything wrong with it, I don't think there is much wrong with what the Australians have done or what we have done.

"It's tough cricket, it's great to be a part of it and it must be exciting to watch - it is great to be out there amongst it."