Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin scored centuries as Australia ran rampant before declaring at 570-9 on Friday, then Mitchell Johnson bowled England captain Alastair Cook to cap a strong performance by the hosts on day two of the second Test.
After all the talk of a low and slow Adelaide Oval pitch, Johnson bowled in excess of 150 kph in his first over and beat Cook (3) for pace as he took out the off stump to have England reeling at 9-1.
Michael Carberry (20) and Joe Root (9) cautiously navigated the remainder of the 21 overs before stumps to help England reach 35-1 in reply.
Earlier, Clarke (148) and Haddin (118) shared a 200-run sixth-wicket stand after Australia resumed at 273-5.
Clarke passed 1,000 runs in the calendar year as he posted his second hundred in as many Tests, salvaging the innings after Australia had lost quick wickets to be 174-4 after winning the toss on day one.
Haddin had some luck, getting three reprieves from some hapless England fielding before reaching his fourth Test century.
“When the captain and vice-captain lead the way, that is pleasing to see,” said coach Darren Lehmann.
After removing Cook, Johnson cannoned a short ball into Root’s chest guard at almost the same speed in the penultimate over to rock the English batsmen. TV replays later showed he would have got an lbw decision against Carberry on the last ball, too, if Australia had called for a review.
Australia dominated right from the start on Friday after sharing the honours with England on day one. The top-order all got starts but failed to convert until Clarke and George Bailey (53) joined forces in an 83-run fifth-wicket stand. England’s fielders contributed by dropping three catches late on day one.
Those, plus two more missed catches and a missed run-out cost England hundreds of runs.
Clarke had a couple of chances on 18 and 91 but was otherwise on top of the attack in a 245-ball innings that contained 17 boundaries.
After Clarke’s departure, Johnson (5) and Peter Siddle (2) gave Swann and Stokes their second wickets of the innings.
Stuart Broad returned the best figures for England’s bowlers with 3-98, while spinners Swann (2-151) and Monty Panesar (1-157) were punished by the batsmen. Stokes returned 2-70 before leaving the field late.
