After the collapse on the first day of third Ashes test; the only thing that can save the drowning ship of Australian supremacy in the world of cricket was “Positive Aggression”. And a hint of this element was exhibited by only one guy from Australia on the dying moments of day one, who was no other than Mitchell Johnson.
Mitchell Johnson took the ball in his hand with the same attitude, full of positive aggression and energy on the second day of the crucial third Test at the WACA Ground on Friday. The killing instinct in the bowling of Mitchell Johnson was powered by his positive attitude, aggression and speed multiplied by an accuracy in line and length. He single-handedly boosted Australia back into the Ashes with a brilliant demonstration of fast bowling.
Sometime one can guess very early that to whom any specific day or specific match may belong to. In the case of Mitchell Johnson, it was also my intuition that predicted when he top scored from Australia in the first innings with his outstanding 62.
A solid opening stand of 78 was provided by English openers Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss; but Mitchell Johnson’s quadruple strike before lunch shocked the visitors, who were eventually dismissed for 187, leaving a first innings gap of 81. In the English collapse Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood fell prey to the brilliant bowling of left-armer Mitchell Johnson, who claimed 6 wickets for just 38 runs.
A solid opening stand of 78 was provided by English openers Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss; but Mitchell Johnson’s quadruple strike before lunch shocked the visitors, who were eventually dismissed for 187, leaving a first innings gap of 81. In the English collapse Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood fell prey to the brilliant bowling of left-armer Mitchell Johnson, who claimed 6 wickets for just 38 runs.
Alastair Cook (32) was the first to go, caught at gully by a diving Mike Hussey as he attempted to drive at the first ball of Johnson's seventh over. Hussey took the catch low to the ground and Cook simply asked the fielder if he had caught it cleanly, accepting Hussey's word before heading off rather than challenging the decision.
Johnson started to get late swing and trapped Jonathan Trott lbw for just four in his next over, before sending inform Kevin Pietersen, coming off a double-century in Adelaide, back to the pavilion, lbw for a duck to claim his third wicket in 12 balls. KP challenged the decision without success.
Ryan Harris (3-59) then joined the party to dismiss Andrew Strauss for 52, who should have been caught behind from the same bowler on 16.
When Collingwood (5) was given out lbw to the aggressive Johnson on a challenge by the Australians, England had lost five wickets for 20 runs to slip to 98-5.
England improved to some extent courtesy to the Ian Bell (52), but then lost their last four wickets for just six runs, with Johnson picking up Chris Tremlett and James Anderson to complete a stunning form reversal for both team and player, leaving a deficit of 81 runs for the visitors.
Johnson started to get late swing and trapped Jonathan Trott lbw for just four in his next over, before sending inform Kevin Pietersen, coming off a double-century in Adelaide, back to the pavilion, lbw for a duck to claim his third wicket in 12 balls. KP challenged the decision without success.
Ryan Harris (3-59) then joined the party to dismiss Andrew Strauss for 52, who should have been caught behind from the same bowler on 16.
When Collingwood (5) was given out lbw to the aggressive Johnson on a challenge by the Australians, England had lost five wickets for 20 runs to slip to 98-5.
England improved to some extent courtesy to the Ian Bell (52), but then lost their last four wickets for just six runs, with Johnson picking up Chris Tremlett and James Anderson to complete a stunning form reversal for both team and player, leaving a deficit of 81 runs for the visitors.
In the last session Australia came back rather strongly compared to the first inning; with the skipper Ricky Ponting continuing the poorest form of his career falling to Steven Finn for just one. It was the second wicket of the hosts after losing Phil Hughes (12) on total of 31. Australian batsmen again started to feel the heat after Finn’s double blow; when Chris Tremlett struck to remove vice captain Michael Clarke for just twelve runs leaving hosts on 119/3 on the stumps of second day.
Australian will start batting on the third day with a lead of 200 with seven wickets in hand; while Shane Watson batting on well-played 61 in company of man of crisis Mike Hussey batting on 24.
For live action of 3rd Ashes test Third Day’s (day 3) play; click the link below:
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