England's hopes of halting 15 years of Ashes defeats were ruthlessly and comprehensively flattened after they were outclassed with bat and ball by Australia in the red-hot heat of the Adelaide Oval.
The tourists had always known that after their emphatic defeat in the first Test at Brisbane, the true test of their character and cricketing ability would be how they performed and responded in the second Test.
They went some way towards achieving that with Michael Vaughan's battling century on the opening day only for the lower order to expose their frailty and leave England disappointed with a first innings total of 342.
But there was always the suspicion there score would not even come close to challenging their formidable line-up and Australia set about emphasising that in remorseless fashion.
Resuming 95 adrift on 247 for two, they pounded England's attack to such an extent they were able to declare 210 runs ahead on 552 for nine and still have 13 overs to go at England and reduce them to 36 for three.
Needing a solid reply if they were to stand any chance of saving the game, England lost opener Marcus Trescothick after only 10 deliveries when he was trapped leg, playing across the line, by Gillespie.
Only six balls later Mark Butcher also fell in identical fashion, only this time to McGrath, while Michael Vaughan could also have gone having edged just short of Shane Warne at first slip earlier in the over.
Vaughan received another reprieve in the very next over when he fended off a short delivery from Gillespie to Darren Lehmann at silly mid-on and although he got his left hand to the ball he failed to hold the catch.
Hussain also had a nervy start but survived an appeal for a catch behind off Gillespie before he had scored, only to fall in the final over when Bichel struck with a delivery which seamed away late.
Earlier Gilchrist spearheaded Australia's relentless progress towards a major first innings advantage with another blistering assault on England's attack.
The explosive wicketkeeper-batsman was in typically blistering form late in the afternoon to power the hosts, who resumed the third day 95 runs adrift on 247 for two, into a commanding position.
Gilchrist's assault halted England's impressive fightback which was led by Yorkshire all-rounder Craig White after he claimed his first four-wicket Test haul in two years during the afternoon session.