Johnson’s four enabled Australia to restrict a buoyed England to just 136 runs in their first innings. PHOTO: AFP
BRISBANE:
Australia’s Brad Haddin revealed how a sharp dressing-down sparked one of England’s biggest Ashes collapses after an inspired Mitchell Johnson terrorised their batting line-up.
Haddin said with England on 55 for two at lunch on day two, bowling coach Craig McDermott had stern words for what was shaping up as an unthreatening Australian attack.
And the team talk had the desired effect as the fired-up Johnson, finishing with four wickets, led a rout of the England batsmen who slumped to be all out for just 136.
Australia returned to the crease to be 65 without loss at stumps, a lead of 224 with 10 wickets in hand and a high chance of extending their 25-year unbeaten run at the Gabba.
“We stayed with the plans that worked. But we probably didn’t start with the ball the way we would have liked,” said Haddin.
“So we came back after the break... and Billy [McDermott] told the bowlers in no uncertain terms where he wanted things to be and we returned to get our lengths right.”
The left-arm paceman regularly clocked speeds in the upper 140 kilometres per hour and finished with four for 61 off 17 overs to restrict the tourists.
‘Johnson a world-class performer’
England opener Michael Carberry, top-scorer in the visitors’ innings with 40 in his first Ashes Test, admitted that Johnson was simply ‘world-class’.
“Mitchell is a world-class performer,” said Carberry. “He’s definitely, in terms of pace, up there with some of the quicks I’ve faced in my time. More importantly, he put the ball in the right area, which is also going to be tough for anyone.”
Published in The Express Tribune, November 23rd, 2013.
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