Chris Woakes, Ian Bell and Stuart Broad all lost their wickets before lunch was called on day five of the final Ashes Test at The Oval, although England were able to go beyond the follow-on target.
The rain meant that no play was possible yesterday and the wet conditions also forced today's action to get underway 30 minutes later than the originally planned 11am.
The home side resumed on 247-4, but they soon lost Woakes when he edged Ryan Harris's delivery to captain Michael Clarke in the slips on 25.
He was then joined back the dressing room by Bell, who fell five runs short of his half-century when he was caught by Brad Haddin off the bowling of James Faulkner, leaving England on 299-6 in the process.
Bell's dismissal brought Broad to the crease, but he was only able to add nine runs to England's tally before Mitchel Starc removed his middle stump.
The hosts will return after the interval on 350-7 and 142 short of Australia's total, with Matt Prior (35) and Graeme Swann (24) both unbeaten.
