England batsman Joe Root walked off shaking his head in anger after Test cricket’s controversial Decision Review System (DRS) claimed a fresh victim on Saturday.

The tourists reached 2-91 at tea on Saturday’s second day of play of the third Ashes Test at the WACA Ground in reply to Australia’s first innings of 385.

England captain Alastair Cook was 42 not out and Kevin Pietersen was on zero as the temperature gauge hovered in the low 40s.

Cook and Michael Carberry (43) shared a partnership of 85 which is the highest opening stand for either side in the series.

Carberry hit eight fours and one six before attempting to leave a delivery from Ryan Harris, succeeding only in dragging the ball onto his stumps.

England sailed along comfortably to 1-90 shortly before tea when Root (four) was given out caught behind off the bowling of Shane Watson. The batsman shook his head in exaggerated fashion and called for a DRS, which showed no edge on Hot Spot.

The Real-Time Snicko technology was also inconclusive, amid suggestions Root had clipped his pad with his bat and missed the ball.

Eventually the original decision from umpire Marais Erasmus stood, forcing Root to trudge off as the England fans booed.

Dropped at third slip on three, Cook appears set to play a big captain’s knock after mis-firing in the first two Tests. The series is on the line on Saturday, with Cook needing to stand up and make a big hundred for England.

Cook’s men dominated the opening session, taking 4-59 to bowl Australia out for 385. England were 0-24 at lunch.

Steve Smith (111) and David Warner (60) were the only two batsmen in Australia’s top six to reach 25. The home side had been 5-143 before Brad Haddin (55) shared a 124-run stand with Smith.

Mitchell Johnson (39) did not add to his overnight score and Smith followed in the fifth over of the day.

No.11 Nathan Lyon was struck on the helmet by a bouncer from Tim Bresnan but finished unbeaten on 17, adding 31 for the last wicket with Peter Siddle (21).

James Anderson (2-60) took two of the four wickets to fall in an improvement on his first-day showing while Stuart Broad was the stand-out with 3-100.

“We went to the short ball probably too much,” England bowling coach David Saker said of his side’s tactics on Friday.

“No doubt we let it slip.”

England trail two-nil in the five-match series and defeat in Perth would mean Australia regain the Ashes.