Ashes T3 Day 2 Stumps: Mitchell Johnson Derails England As Australia Gather Lead Runs

Mitchell Johnson returned for a vengeance to Perth to not only give the Australian selectors a bit of a reprieve but also, to give Australia an even chance of winning of the third Test of the Ashes 2010 at the WACA.

mitchell johnson in perth

Steaming in, swearing, sledging, deadly with the ball. The Mitchell Johnson was old was back. Perhaps dropping him for the Adelaide Test was the best thing to happen to Johnson in hindsight. He found his groove and made England pay.

After dismissing Australia for 268 for the first innings on the first day, England did not have an inkling of what was to come as the openers, Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss, put up a seventy-eight run partnership. It seemed a case of the usual with England taking Australia out of the equation slowly but surely.

But then came the drama. Johnson struck to dismiss Cook, Strauss and Kevin Pietersen as England found themselves at three down for eighty-four, this after the England captain hit a half century. England spiralled further with Ryan Harris also getting into the wicket taking act with three wickets.

However, Johnson hit the straps and kept going, his aggression being his prime ammo. And fury of being dropped and the confidence rebounded rather well for Australia who rallied back into the match with England all out for 187.

But if Australia hoped to extend their lead big time, the England bowlers did not falter in their task. Chris Tremlett once again stuck to his task but it was Steven Finn that thwarted concerns by producing the spell that saw him dismiss Ricky Ponting, the Australian captain, for one and taking out Phil Hughes before him.

Shane Watson was holding forte on sixty-one along with Michael Hussey with Australia gaining a lead of 200 runs with seven wickets to play with.