Mitchell Johnson revived his Test career and sparked Australia's Ashes hopes into life with a brutal six-wicket haul on the second day at the WACA as England subsided to 187 all out. Johnson claimed four during the morning session and returned to mop up the tail as the visitors lost all ten wickets for 109 following a solid opening partnership. He was well supported by Ryan Harris, who claimed three key victims, but this was the Johnson show.
His hours in the nets since being dropped have clearly worked and he also rode on the confidence of his batting effort to produce a wonderful spell of 9-3-20-4 which included a spell of three wickets in 12 balls to crash through England's previously formidable top order. Harris's performance was also important, as he removed the key scalps of Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell who had both made impressive half-centuries.
England made comfortable progress for most of the first hour to suggest further pain for Australia. However, Johnson's introduction changed the complexion as he settled into a tight line then rediscovered his swing, which makes him such a deadly prospect when he's on song. His scalping of Pietersen, Jonathan Trott, and Paul Collingwood were classic left-armer to right-hander dismissals as the batsmen were beaten by sharp movement.
Cook looked set to continue his prolific series before driving at a full delivery which shaped away, giving Mike Hussey a low catch in the gully. It was an area that the Australians haven't attacked enough to Cook and it brought rewards. Trott only lasted eight balls when Johnson beat a flat-footed drive with one that swung back into the right hander and would have taken off stump.
Pietersen's stay was even briefer as Johnson followed two off-stump deliveries with another inducker which struck the batsman in front of middle and leg. Pietersen asked for a review, but he never wore the expression of a man confident he would be saved and indeed the ball was striking flush on leg stump. Three wickets in 12 balls and the series was alive.
Collingwood is the one England top-order batsman not to fill his boots so far - he failed in Brisbane and hit 42 in Adelaide - and was nowhere near the delivery that snaked back and struck him on the front pad. Initially he wasn't given but, after some persuading from Johnson, Ricky Ponting ask for a review and it proved a perfect call with the ball hitting in line and taking off stump six inches from the top.
A team that had racked up 1240 runs for six wickets in their last two innings were looking shellshocked. Ryan Harris collected the other wicket to fall during the session and it was a major strike, too, with Strauss in fine form after being reprieved on 16 when Brad Haddin and Shane Watson left an edge to each other and it flew between them.
Strauss had been particularly strong through the leg side when the bowlers strayed but was undone by a good delivery from Harris that climbed and took the edge. No one in the England team, though, is playing better than Bell. He launched his innings with a perfect straight drive and showed outstanding composure to weather the Johnson storm until the lunch interval. His timing remained perfect whenever the bowlers strayed in a display that showed how much he has developed since four years ago in Australia.
At stages some of Australia's tactics were curious, especially when they persisted with the short ball but the plan did bring Matt Prior's wicket. The ball after being hit on the shoulder by Peter Siddle, a ball struck his body, bounced back onto the glove and down onto leg stump. It was Siddle's first wicket since the opening day in Brisbane when he took six.
Graeme Swann offered solid support to Bell in a useful stand of 36 and received plenty of short stuff which he handled reasonably well. However, Harris returned the attack, after treatment on a minor calf problem, and found the edge that Ben Hilfenhaus repeatedly missed. Left with the quick bowlers for company, Bell felt he had to attack and edge a booming drive which was superbly held by Ponting at second slip.
With the last specialist batsman gone the end came swiftly against Johnson. He speared one through Tremlett then completed a special performance when James Anderson, who certainly isn't a favourite amongst the home side, fenced to first slip. Australia now have a foothold in the series and a solid batting effort can set up victory.
His hours in the nets since being dropped have clearly worked and he also rode on the confidence of his batting effort to produce a wonderful spell of 9-3-20-4 which included a spell of three wickets in 12 balls to crash through England's previously formidable top order. Harris's performance was also important, as he removed the key scalps of Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell who had both made impressive half-centuries.
England made comfortable progress for most of the first hour to suggest further pain for Australia. However, Johnson's introduction changed the complexion as he settled into a tight line then rediscovered his swing, which makes him such a deadly prospect when he's on song. His scalping of Pietersen, Jonathan Trott, and Paul Collingwood were classic left-armer to right-hander dismissals as the batsmen were beaten by sharp movement.
Cook looked set to continue his prolific series before driving at a full delivery which shaped away, giving Mike Hussey a low catch in the gully. It was an area that the Australians haven't attacked enough to Cook and it brought rewards. Trott only lasted eight balls when Johnson beat a flat-footed drive with one that swung back into the right hander and would have taken off stump.
Pietersen's stay was even briefer as Johnson followed two off-stump deliveries with another inducker which struck the batsman in front of middle and leg. Pietersen asked for a review, but he never wore the expression of a man confident he would be saved and indeed the ball was striking flush on leg stump. Three wickets in 12 balls and the series was alive.
Collingwood is the one England top-order batsman not to fill his boots so far - he failed in Brisbane and hit 42 in Adelaide - and was nowhere near the delivery that snaked back and struck him on the front pad. Initially he wasn't given but, after some persuading from Johnson, Ricky Ponting ask for a review and it proved a perfect call with the ball hitting in line and taking off stump six inches from the top.
A team that had racked up 1240 runs for six wickets in their last two innings were looking shellshocked. Ryan Harris collected the other wicket to fall during the session and it was a major strike, too, with Strauss in fine form after being reprieved on 16 when Brad Haddin and Shane Watson left an edge to each other and it flew between them.
Strauss had been particularly strong through the leg side when the bowlers strayed but was undone by a good delivery from Harris that climbed and took the edge. No one in the England team, though, is playing better than Bell. He launched his innings with a perfect straight drive and showed outstanding composure to weather the Johnson storm until the lunch interval. His timing remained perfect whenever the bowlers strayed in a display that showed how much he has developed since four years ago in Australia.
At stages some of Australia's tactics were curious, especially when they persisted with the short ball but the plan did bring Matt Prior's wicket. The ball after being hit on the shoulder by Peter Siddle, a ball struck his body, bounced back onto the glove and down onto leg stump. It was Siddle's first wicket since the opening day in Brisbane when he took six.
Graeme Swann offered solid support to Bell in a useful stand of 36 and received plenty of short stuff which he handled reasonably well. However, Harris returned the attack, after treatment on a minor calf problem, and found the edge that Ben Hilfenhaus repeatedly missed. Left with the quick bowlers for company, Bell felt he had to attack and edge a booming drive which was superbly held by Ponting at second slip.
With the last specialist batsman gone the end came swiftly against Johnson. He speared one through Tremlett then completed a special performance when James Anderson, who certainly isn't a favourite amongst the home side, fenced to first slip. Australia now have a foothold in the series and a solid batting effort can set up victory.
