A fine allround bowling performance propelled Australia into control of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane at stumps on day two.
Led by the revival of Mitchell Johnson, the Aussies dismissed England for a first innings total of just 136.
Johnson finished with figures of 4-61, decimating the England attack with speed and some bounce, but was not alone as Ryan Harris (3-28) and Nathan Lyon (2-17) provided valuable support.
Day two saw one of the worst batting collapses in Test history when the visitors lost six wickets over 58 balls for just nine runs shortly before tea, just the fifth time in English history that a Test side lost six wickets for 10 or less runs.
“It was a disappointing session just before tea and it really swung the game a little bit,” opener Michael Carberry said.
“Tomorrow is a new day and we have to focus on getting back in the game.”
Former English batsman Geoffrey Boycott described day two as “pathetic”.
“It’s very sad to see them giving away the Test like this. They have almost gifted the test to Australia,” he told the BBC’s Test Match Special.
“The performance against Nathan Lyon was tripe. They have a million staff but they can’t work out how to play him! If you can’t bat in test matches, you’ve had it. ”
Johnson was given a lifeline heading into the second Ashes series of the year, receiving his first Test call-up in three years.The 32-year-old is suddenly in line to nab man of the match honours should his form over the remaining days maintain.
Nathan Lyon provided one of the other highlights of the day when he narrowly missed out on recording a hat-trick; both wickets being caught by at close range by Steve Smith. Smith and debutant George Bailey combined for five catches on the day.
Australia managed to save their first innings total thanks to a spirited effort from the Johnson (64) and Brad Haddin (94) and head into day three 0-65 with David Warner (45) and Chris Rogers (15) leading the way.
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