England passed their follow-on target of 293 alright, but they also lost Ian Bell for 45, giving him a series aggregate of 545 runs at an average of 68.
Plenty of time also remained when play resumed at 11.30am after the fourth day wash-out, and a minimum of 98 overs were available. There were possibilities, if only for minor points-scoring between individuals ahead of the next Ashes series in three months' time.
By the lunch interval, after adding 103 runs from 21 overs with a sudden and welcome acceleration, England were only 142 runs behind Australia's first innings.
Bell made a pleasant first wicket for James Faulkner in Test cricket, but it did come from a glance down the legside when Faulkner went round the wicket.
Just as much, or more, credit was due to Brad Haddin as the bowler. Australia's keeper dived to catch the ball in his left hand and record his 27th dismissal of this series, one short of the record.
Soon afterwards the fun began. It usually does when Graeme Swann appears.
With Matt Prior at the other end, bustling his way to his highest score of a lean series, Swann decided on a spot of swashbuckle.
Mitchell Starc went for 14 in the same over that he dismissed Stuart Broad with a peach that reverse-swung into him. But four of those 14 runs came from legbyes.
Swann and Prior then climbed into Nathan Lyon's offspin and hit it for 18 in an over, including a straight six by Swann.
That brought up 100 runs for England off only 20 overs in the morning session, after the laboured efforts of the top order batsmen who were intent on averting the follow-on.
Before England passed their target of 293, Chris Woakes was caught at second slip off one of his less distinguished drives, but he had played several handsome and effective ones.
At lunch Swann had swashbuckled his way to 24 off 11 balls, and Prior to 35 off 46, as England's engine-room revved into life.
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