Lunch England 172 and 2 for 65 (Root 29*, Pietersen 18*) need another 466 runs to beat Australia 9 for 570 dec and 3 for 132 dec
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England awoke to headlines proclaiming that they were so spooked by Mitchell Johnson that another 5-0 whitewash could be on the cards. It was time for a captain to stand up and be counted. Alastair Cook did just that - and it all went horribly awry.
Cook's decision to hook the third ball he faced from Johnson - a head-high bouncer designed to clear sleep from the eyes - was appropriate enough for old batsmen who believed in fighting fire with fire, the former Australian captain Ian Chappell among them, but others looked on in disbelief as Cook's top edge was efficiently held by Ryan Harris at fine leg.
Cook is a good hooker, and it was Cook whose example three years ago was the prime source of England's Ashes win in Australia. But what was certain was that as an attempt to stifle Johnson's terror, his response had failed in its execution.
To add to England's misery, Michael Carberry followed in similar fashion in the 12th over when a composed innings ended as he whipped a short ball from Peter Siddle off his hip and this time picked out Nathan Lyon at long leg.
Johnson's 7 for 40 on a sunlit Adelaide Saturday had been the best return by an Ashes fast bowler in Adelaide, a ground where batsmen have normally dominated and a fast bowler's boots fill with blood. The shock still lingered on Sunday morning for England's travelling band of supporters, many of whom were still staring blankly at their breakfast burgers when they heard that their captain had been dismissed a second time.
It all bore little resemblance to the statistics which preceded this series: England unbeaten in 13 Tests, Australia with seven defeats in nine. But the only way in which England could bring such statistics into play was to see off Johnson's short, violent spells, and turn the match into 11-a-side. The side which has talked sternly of its need to make 400-plus totals again has not even managed 200 in three attempts.
Patience was perhaps even more demanded considering a weather forecast which did not rule out afternoon storms and which influenced Michael Clarke's decision to declare Australia's total overnight, with a lead of 530, 15 minutes before the start of play.
Kevin Pietersen and Joe Root did add some stability. Root's place at No.3, in preference to Ian Bell, has been questioned, but if some England players really have been spooked by Johnson, Root is not among them. Beneath that boyish grin is a batsman of mental toughness. He settled for five runs from 34 balls, the hook shot not even entering his consciousness, before a full toss from the offspinner Nathan Lyon helped him on his way.
Johnson's first spell had been limited to three overs: Cook removed and not a run conceded. He had a second spell of three overs before lunch, but it was perhaps his least threatening spell of the series. Root, who steered him behind point for a boundary, imagined that he might find benefit from his patience.
Pietersen also bore his responsibilities seriously up to lunch. Australia goaded him with two short midwickets again, but this time there was no attempt to take up the challenge as he played religiously straight.
England lose openers after Clarke declares
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England lose openers after Clarke declares
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England lose openers after Clarke declares
