Sizzling Johnson shreds Eng into pieces

The English batting crumbled for the second Test running, handing Australia a mammoth 398-run first innings lead. But instead of enforcing a follow-on, Australia came out to bat and ended the day 132 for three, largely thanks to David Warner’s quick-fire 83*.

First innings centurion Michael Clarke fell for 22 and was the biggest scalp of the day for the English. Chris Rogers (2) and Shane Watson (0) failed to impressive, falling in the space of three deliveries. Steven Smith (23 not out) was the other unbeaten batsman when stumps was called.

Starting the day 35 for one, England lost Joe Root (15) and Kevin Pietersen (4) without putting much of a fight. Michael Carberry (60), playing only his third Test, held one end up and along with Ian Bell (72 not out) started a mini-revival. However, after Carberry fell to Watson, it was a Johnson show as the left-arm pacer picked up the next six English wickets to fall with the visitors adding just 55 runs. Australia had scored a massive 570 for nine declared in their first innings with Clarke scoring 148 and Brad Haddin smashing 118 runs.

‘It’s hard to explain, to be honest. Looking back at the injury, I had to be able to work myself back into it this time. It’s been a lot of hard work. ‘There were plenty of people telling me I wasn’t going to play again, so it’s emotional for me,’ Johnson said of his stunning spell.

The tendency to be fast but wayward seems to be behind him. After spending hours under the tutelage of Dennis Lillee, Johnson now has rhythm and is bowling faster than anyone in Test cricket, and not straying too far off line. Johnson’s previous best return against England was 6/38 at Perth which helped Australia to its only win in the 1-3 series loss in 2010-11.

It was a risk bringing Johnson back for that series after the Barmy Army and England batsmen tormented him as he struggled to control his swing in the 2009 tour.

ADELAIDE: Ian Bell says England must quickly fix their problems if they are to keep the Ashes from the dominant Australians.England collapsed for a third time in the series for just 172 in reply to Australia’s massive 570 for nine declared and are facing a 530-run deficit heading into the fourth day of the second Adelaide Test on Sunday. Bell, who again expressed his willingness to bat at number three for England, was one of few shining beacons among the abject tourists’ batting performance, scoring an unbeaten 72. But the senior batsman admits time is running out as the Aussies close in on going two-up in the five-Test series over the closing two days of the Adelaide Test. ‘You’ve all seen what we’ve done in the past. These games are ‘saveable’, but someone is going to have to play an incredible innings. But what we’ve done in the last three innings isn’t going to get us close. So... probably two or three guys are really going to have to step up.