Innings close England 255 (Pietersen 71, Johnson 5-63) v Australia
Live scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Australia lost the early wickets of David Warner and Shane Watson after Mitchell Johnson rumbled England out for 255 on day two of the fourth Ashes Test at the MCG.
Warner fell to a presumptuous pull shot at James Anderson and Watson edged an attempted drive off Ben Stokes to leave the hosts in slightly wobbly territory, with Chris Rogers and the captain Michael Clarke in need of a steadying afternoon partnership. They owed much to Johnson, who once again tormented England's lower order.
Starting off with two wickets in his first over, including that of a panicked Kevin Pietersen, Johnson then crashed through Stuart Broad for figures of 5 for 63, all those wickets taken at a cost of 18 runs in nine overs after Clarke handed him the second new ball with England a relatively well-placed 4 for 201 late on Boxing Day.
At that stage they had hopes of a substantial tally but went into the field with only a mediocre first innings - albeit their best of a wretched series - and the memories of another Johnson terror to haunt them. Pietersen in particular will wonder at the wisdom of his leg-side swish to be bowled, having fought so stolidly on day one.
Pietersen had slapped the first ball of the morning from Ryan Harris to the boundary over point, suggesting entertainment was in the offing. Johnson had other ideas however, and his first delivery lifted sharply on a hapless Tim Bresnan, looping off the shoulder of a bat raised in self preservation and being well held by George Bailey running back from square leg.
After Stuart Broad took a leg bye, Johnson went after Pietersen, who seemed intent on destruction one way or another. A short ball had him pulling out of a swing to leg at the last minute, before a fuller, faster delivery, perhaps with a hint of inswing, rushed through Pietersen's brazen attempt to mow over midwicket. Two wickets in the over had the MCG in morning tumult.
Broad took two boundaries from Harris' next over, a flirty outside edge and a more assured glide through the covers, before the same bowler dropped a difficult return chance from a leading edge, having made excellent ground to reach it. Johnson then intervened once more, pinning Broad lbw with a yorker that struck the same foot he had badly bruised with another lbw verdict in Perth. Broad's consideration of a review brought mirth but little else.
Anderson and Monty Panesar then held up the Australians briefly, the latter's determination putting some of his better batting counterparts to some shame. He was struck an eye-watering blow to the groin by Peter Siddle before being bowled by Nathan Lyon when offering no shot. Australia had wrapped up the innings in less than an hour, but their progress to lunch would not be altogether smooth.
England hit back after Johnson docks tail
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England hit back after Johnson docks tail
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England hit back after Johnson docks tail
