PERTH, Dec 17 (AFP): The Ashes was delicately poised today after Mitchell Johnson single-handedly lifted Australia back into contention with an inspired display of fast bowling on the second day of the third Test.
Derided in Brisbane and then dropped for Adelaide, Johnson (6-38) evoked memories of local fast bowling legend Dennis Lillee as he sliced through the England top order, with the tourists dismissed for 187.
England were in the box seat at the start of play at the WACA -- the home side had made just 268 on the opening day and England were cruising at 78-0 with openers Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss in command.
Johnson ran in for the first ball of his seventh over today with series figures of 0-187.
Twenty-seven balls later, the top run-scorer in the Australian first innings had the prized scalps of Cook, Jonathan Trott, Kevin Pietersen and Paul Collingwood in an unexpected four-wicket blitz that revived the home team�s hopes.
Facing a first innings deficit of 81, England fought back late in the day as the dismal form of Australian captain Ricky Ponting (1) and Michael Clarke (20) continued.
Disciplined batting from Shane Watson (61 not out) and Mike Hussey (24 not out) steadied the ship and the home side were 119-3 at stumps, an overall lead of 200 in a match where a result is highly likely.
SCORECARD
Australia 1st innings: 268
England 1st innings: Strauss c Haddin b Harris 52, Cook c Hussey b Johnson 32, Trott lbw b Johnson 4, Pietersen lbw b Johnson 0, Collingwood lbw b Johnson 5, Bell c Ponting b Harris 53, Prior b Siddle 12, Swann c Haddin b Harris 11, Tremlett b Johnson 2, Anderson c Watson b Johnson 0, Finn not out 1. Extras: (b 8, lb 4, w 1, nb 2) 15. Total: (all out; 62.3 overs) 187. Fall of wickets: 1-78, 2-82, 3-82, 4-94, 5-98, 6-145, 7-181, 8-186, 9-186, 10-187. Bowling: Hilfenhaus 21-6-53-0, Harris 15-4-59-3, Siddle 9-2-25-1, Johnson 17.3-5-38-6.
Australia 2nd innings: Watson not out 61, Hughes c Collingwood b Finn 12, Ponting c Prior b Finn 1, Clarke b Tremlett 20, Hussey not out 24. Extras: (nb 1) 1. Total: (3 wickets; 33 overs) 119. Fall of wickets: 1-31, 2-34, 3-64. Bowling: Anderson 11-5-25-0, Tremlett 9-2-20-1, Finn 9-1-48-2, Swann 4-0-26-0.
