Aussies building big lead

England will take some hope into the third day of play at the WACA despite a first-innings capitulation as a fired-up Mitchell Johnson dragged Australia back into contention in the third Ashes Test.

The writing appeared on the wall for Australia’s chances of regaining the Ashes at the start of play on Friday as England resumed at 0-29 in response to the hosts’ score, a disappointing 268 on the first day.

But Johnson found the perfect moment to re-discover his best, the enigmatic and sometimes unstoppable fast bowler producing a sizzling spell of swing bowling that tore through England’s top order before lunch.

In an incredible morning burst, Johnson claimed 4-7 from 27 deliveries, his effort reminiscent of the 5-2 he claimed against South Africa at this same ground almost two years ago to the day.

Taking 6-38 overall, Johnson’s efforts saw England lose all 10 wickets for just 109 runs as they were dismissed for 187, with Ryan Harris adding 3-59 and Peter Siddle chipping in with 1-25.

In response, England bagged some crucial wickets to have Australia at 3-119 at stumps, a lead of 200 heading into the third day.

Facing a full session after tea, Australia were intent on adding to their 81-run first-innings’ lead, but once again the increasingly familiar issues with their top-order rose to the surface as Phil Hughes (12), Ricky Ponting (one) and Michael Clarke (20) all went cheaply.

However Shane Watson remains unbeaten at the crease on 61, the opener and the resolute Michael Hussey (24) having already added 55 runs for the fourth wicket as the hosts aim for a 300-plus lead.

As he did in the first innings, Hughes lost his wicket to a follow-up ball after being softened up by a few bouncers, the opener attempting to block and seeing a fuller ball from Steven Finn (2-48) cut across his bat to Paul Collingwood at third slip.

A determined-looking Ponting then chased a Finn delivery down leg side, the ball just grazing his glove as it went through to the ‘keeper. Umpire Marais Erasmus gave Ponting the benefit of the doubt, but the Australian skipper was sent walking after the third umpire overturned Erasmus’ decision on review.

And Clarke, accused of timidity in the first innings, lost his wicket by attempting to attack too heavily this time around, the vice-captain chasing a Tremlett (1-20) delivery that was wide of his off-stump and chopping it back onto his wickets.



But in a day off ebbs and flows it was hardly surprising to see Australia regain the initiative through Watson and Hussey by stumps.

Earlier in the day, everything appeared to be flowing England’s way, the Ashes series apparently slipping from Australia’s grasp as Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook took the visitors through to 78 without loss.

Strauss had a massive let-off on 16 as an edge from Harris flew in between Brad Haddin and Watson without either of the pair even seeing it.

But that was the last thing that went England’s way as Johnson took the ball from the with the morning easterly from the Prindiville Stand end and re-discovered his mojo, his technique and wicket-taking ability in a big way.

Alastair Cook (32) may have been guilty of a rash shot as he was caught down low by Hussey in the gully, but the other English bats had no answer to Johnson’s sizzling late inswingers as he trapped Jonathan Trott (four), Kevin Pietersen (zero) and Paul Collingwood (five) in front in quick succession.

Amidst the carnage, Harris earned another edge from Strauss, who top-scored with 52, that was caught by Haddin this time.

Indeed, Strauss and fellow half-centurion Ian Bell (50) were the shining lights for England’s batsmen on a horror day as the tourists went to lunch five down and continued to lose wickets after the break.

Siddle subjected Matt Prior (12) to a bouncer barrage that eventually saw a ball hit hi body and strike the stumps, while Harris had Graeme Swann (12) caught behind and Bell caught at third slip getting a thick edge as he lashed out in a search for quick runs with his partners falling around him.

It was fitting, though, that Johnson returned with two savage late inswingers to remove Chris Tremlett (two) and James Anderson (zero), although whether his display was a flash in the pan or the real deal remains to be seen.