Johnson leads Aussie fightback

Johnson, Harris rattle England batsmen

November 22, 2013 09:47 am | Updated November 16, 2021 07:57 pm IST - BRISBANE

Australia's Steven Smith, center, celebrates with Ryan Harris, left, after Harris got the wicket of England's Alastair Cook, not shown, on the second day of the series-opening Ashes cricket test between England and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia on Friday.

Australia's Steven Smith, center, celebrates with Ryan Harris, left, after Harris got the wicket of England's Alastair Cook, not shown, on the second day of the series-opening Ashes cricket test between England and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia on Friday.

Recalled paceman Mitchell Johnson returned to his brutal best on Friday as Australia blew away England for just 136 to turn the first Ashes Test on its head.

Australia, castigated for a top-order failure on day one, roared back to rattle the trophy-holder with six wickets for nine in one of its worst Ashes collapses.

By stumps on the second day in Brisbane, the home side had cruised to 65 without loss, 224 runs in front, with David Warner on 45 and Chris Rogers on 15.

And it was Johnson, who has been erratic in his Test career and was targeted mercilessly by England’s Barmy Army fans in the 2010-2011 series, who sparked the turnaround.

The left-armer, steaming in and bowling at hostile pace, captured four for 46 off 13 overs, taking the wickets of Jonathan Trott, Michael Carberry, Joe Root and Graeme Swann.

The confidence flooded back into the Australians, coming off a 3-0 series loss to England three months ago, with Ryan Harris taking three wickets, spinner Nathan Lyon denied a hat-trick and Steven Smith holding three catches.

Unbeaten record

It will now be confident of extending an unbeaten record at the Gabba ground which goes back to 1988. Australia is also trying to avoid losing four Ashes series in a row for the first time in 123 years.

England, which lost six wickets for just nine runs, was left to contemplate its heaviest collapse since Melbourne 1990, when it gave up nine wickets for 47 runs.

Its lowest first-innings score since the 102 against Australia at Headingley in 2009 came after the key scalp of Kevin Pietersen, playing in his 100th Test, triggered a clatter of wickets.

Risky run

Earlier, the first innings by Australia had ended on 295 when Haddin was run out chasing a century.

The veteran wicketkeeper, 78 not out overnight, attempted a risky second run on 94 but was beaten by Carberry’s throw from deep point to Prior behind the stumps. Broad, England’s hero of the first day walked off the Gabba holding the match ball aloft in tribute to his six for 81 off 24 overs.

Scoreboard

Australia 1st innings: Chris Rogers c Bell b Broad 1; David Warner c Pietersen b Broad 49; Shane Watson c Swann b Broad 22; Michael Clarke c Bell b Broad 1; Steve Smith c Cook b Tremlett 31; George Bailey c Cook b Anderson 3; Brad Haddin run out 94; Mitchell Johnson b Broad 64; Peter Siddle c Cook b Anderson 7; Ryan Harris c Prior b Broad 9; Nathan Lyon not out 1; Extras- (11lb,1nb,1w) 13

TOTAL- (all out) 295

Overs- 97.1. Batting time- 419 minutes.

Fall of wickets- 1—12, 2—71, 3—73, 4—83, 5—100, 6—132, 7—246, 8—265, 9—282, 10—295

England Bowling Jimmy Anderson 25.1—5—67—2, Stuart Broad 24—3—81—6 (1nb,1w), Chris Tremlett 19—3—51—1, Graeme Swann 26—4—80—0, Joe Root 3—1—5—0.

England 1st innings ; Alastair Cook c Haddin b Harris 13; Michael Carberry c Watson b Johnson 40; Jonathan Trott c Haddin b Johnson 10; Kevin Pietersen c Bailey b Harris 18; Ian Bell c Smith b Lyon 5; Joe Root c Smith b Johnson 2; Matt Prior c Smith b Lyon 0; Stuart Broad c Rogers b Siddle 32; Graeme Swann c Bailey b Johnson 0; Chris Tremlett c Lyon b Harris 8; Jimmy Anderson not out 2; Extras- (4b,2lb) 6

TOTAL- (all out) 136

Overs - 52.4. Batting time- 250 minutes.

Fall of wickets- 1—28, 2—55, 3—82, 4—87, 5—87, 6—87, 7—89, 8—91, 9—110, 10—132.

Australia bowling- Ryan Harris 15—5—28—3, Mitchell Johnson 17—2—61—4, Peter Siddle 11.4—3—24—1, Nathan Lyon 9—4—17—2.

Australia 2nd innings: David Warner not out 45; Chris Rogers not out 15; Extras- (5lb) 5

TOTAL- (without loss) 65

Overs- 22. Batting time- 90 minutes.

England bowling- Jimmy Anderson 5—1—16—0, Stuart Broad 5—1—13—0, Chris Tremlett 4—2—8—0, Graeme Swann 6—1—22—0, Joe Root 2—1—1—0.

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