Mercurial Johnson Brings Australia Back From The Brink

Before play started on day 2 in Perth one Australian book maker had paid out for England retaining the Ashes to the tune of $400,000.

With Australia having been bowled out in the first day for just 268 you could see how one might consider this series a done deal already. Australia were in dire need of stellar opening session in the field to restore some sort of competitive element to this Ashes series. And oh boy did they get it.

Early on Andrew Strauss nicked one that flew between a stationary Brad Haddin at wicket keeper and 1^st slip, leaving a “here we go again” look on under-fire Ricky Ponting’s face.

England were rolling along to a handy 78 for no loss until the ball was handed to Mitchell Johnson. The talented but often infuriating Johnson put in one of the great spells of bowling in the morning session to pull Australia back into this Ashes series.

Suddenly things started to look like the Ashes of old. England wickets tumbled under the power of Johnson’s feisty swing bowling. The middle order was reduced to dust and left England in a precarious 98-5.

First to fall was the previously unflappable Alistair Cook who sent a thick edge into gully where Mike Hussey took a good low catch. Jonathan Trott came out to a rousing welcome from a still buoyant Barmy Army, confident in a man who does a better Geoffrey Boycott impression than anyone. But Trott looked suddenly lost in the middle, squirting balls through nervously through the slips before Johnson struck with a delightful ball that swung nastily back into Trott pads. Up went the finger and a bemused Trott was back off to the pavilion.

Johnson, who had been left out of the second test in Adelaide to rest and regain some conditioning, then quickly dismissed Pietersen and Collingwood with similar darting deliveries that swung back into the right handers, landing flush in the pads to the delight of the formally subdued Australian support.

Strauss meanwhile, who had been coping ok with Johnson, must have been worried by the rotating door of batting partners. The captain had moved nicely to his half century before Ryan Harris slanted a tempting one across the face of the England Captain, who nicked it to a delighted Haddin.

Johnson took his four wickets in 25 balls and gave up just 7 runs. Ian Bell and Matt Prior were pleased for the refuge of the Lunch break when it came.

Bell was the only man who really looked able to handle the pace, bounce and swing that Johnson and the Australian seamers threw at them. Prior ended up playing on after taking a short ball barrage. Graeme Swann was only able to hang around for so long before Harris struck with great line and length to find the edge.

With the deficit still a heavy one Bell felt the pressure of batting with the tail. He was able to get a few quick runs before edging Harris to Ricky Ponting at second slip for a hard fought 53. Bell looked very calm and organised in his play at the crease, lending weight to the voices calling for Bell to rise up the order.

The ever honest Geoffrey Boycott called Bell the most technically gifted player in England’s line up and I must agree. He never looked flustered under the bombardment Australia threw at him, and it can’t be long before he’s moved up to at least 5.

The tail was wrapped up by Harris and Johnson quickly, and what started out as a promising day progressed to a worryingly low 187 all out before tea. Giving a first innings margin of 81 to a suddenly confident Australia.

Shane Watson and Phil Hughes came out to a boisterous reception, ready to carry the momentum forward. They began to fill their boots early. Mostly off a wayward Stephen Finn. However it was Finn who would get the breakthrough, teasing Hughes into an unsteady flap of the bat outside his off stump and sending the ball safely into Collingwood’s arms. This bought the entrance of Ricky Ponting, no doubt sooner than he’d have wanted. But it wasn’t long until he was given his marching orders.

After just 9 balls Ponting flicked his bat at a Finn delivery behind his legs. There was the slightest of brushes of ball on glove and as Prior took the catch Ponting stood resolutely in the crease, refusing to walk as Umpire Doctrove’s finger stayed firmly down. Strauss called for the referral that exposed the nick and off went a despondent Ponting.

Michael Clarke had a brief flourish before dragging a cut stroke onto his own stumps from Tremlett. But the rocks of Australia’s batting line-ups have been Watson and Mike Hussey during this series, and again they provided for the hosts. An onslaught at the end of the day on a tired pace attack that is bowling for a second straight day boosted the Australian lead to 200 by stumps, for the loss of just 3 wickets.

The day belonged to Johnson, who finished with 6 for 38, and Australia. With 3 days left England will have a battle on their hands to get a result in this Test. The fight for the little urn is truly on now.