Ashes 2013-14: Mitchell Johnson’s speedy burst and other talking points from Day 2 of 1st Test

Mitchell Johnson ended the first innings with figures of four for 61 © Getty Images

England were blitzed by the pace of Mitchell Johnson on Day Two of the first Ashes 2013-14 Test in Brisbane at The Gabba. The left-arm fast bowler took four wickets to hand Australia a sizeable lead at stumps on the second day. But there were other talking points as well from Friday. Shrikant Shankar has more…
 

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Australia get bowled out cheaply?
 
When play started on Day Two of the first Ashes 2013-14 Test, Australia were in a real spot of bother. They began at 273 for eight. Brad Haddin was run-out for 94 quite acrobatically by Matt Prior and Australia’s innings ended at 295. The Australian media did not let their feelings be hidden as they trashed the hosts’ batting display. They were not wrong as the batsmen got out to poor shots. They could have definitely scored more runs, or so was the feeling amongst the fans and the media. But did they get bowled out cheaply?
 

England haven’t reached more than 400 in last 16 innings #ashes

— BBC TMS (@bbctms) November 22, 2013

England were bowled out for only 136, so, it was the visitors who were bowled out cheaply and the Aussies were all smiles.
 

Michael Carberry’s (above) helmet looked like a bicycle rider’s helmet to Shane Warne © Getty Images

Michael Carberry’s helmet makes commentators laugh
 
Michael Carberry is playing his first Ashes Test and a lot of nerves would have been there. As he walked out to the middle with captain Alastair Cook, more than his First-Class records, his head gear was the subject of discussion amongst the commentators. Shane Warne, in particular, was amused by Carberry’s helmet which resembled more like a bicycle rider’s helmet rather than that of a batsman. Earlier, Carberry had run in very fast from deep square-leg to collect, throw and affect the run-out of Haddin. He was already termed as one of the fastest runner in cricket. So, when he came out wearing his helmet, the banter quickly went in describing how aerodynamically perfect it was for a bicycle rider.
 
However, Carberry top-scored for England with 40 as they were bowled out for a paltry 136. He looked more assure than any other England batsman.
 

Nathan Lyon (above) removed Ian Bell and Matt Prior in successive deliveries © Getty Images

Nathan Lyon nearly repeats Peter Siddle’s feat from 3 years ago
 
On Day One of the first Ashes Test in the 2010-11 series, Peter Siddle rattled the England batsmen with a hat-trick at the Gabba. On Friday, off-spinner Nathan Lyon nearly accomplished the same feat as he dismissed Ian Bell and Matt Prior off consecutive deliveries. His hat-trick ball was a wide one to Stuart Broad, who left it alone. Another similarity was that Siddle’s second and third wickets in 2010-11 were Prior and Broad. So, in not getting out off the first he faced, Broad avoided becoming the hat-trick wicket twice in his career — that too at the same ground.
 

The real Mitchell Johnson turns up
 
When Mitchell Johnson bowls, one really does not know what to expect. He can look like the best bowler in the world and an amateur in two different spells in the same innings. Well on Day Two, that was the case. He opened the bowling with Ryan Harris, but was ineffective and wayward. Carberry and Cook scored a lot of runs on the leg side behind square. When Johnson bowled in the second session of the day, he looked like the bowler that batsmen would generally fear. He was quick and accurate. His first wicket came in the first session. Jonathan Trott was targeted on his leg side and ended up edging a short of a length delivery to Haddin behind the wickets.
 
Then in the post-lunch session, Johnson’s three-wicket burst derailed England’s innings. He first removed Carberry by bowling from round the wicket and aiming at his midriff. Then he found the edge of Joe Root’s bat as Steven Smith took the catch at third slip. He then dismissed Graeme Swann as well to all but end England’s innings. The Queenslander knows his home conditions very well and utilised all his experience and pace to devastating effect.
 
 
Australia use Bodyline theory to good effect
 
Bodyline is a term that the England team started many many years ago. Although the field positions set for Bodyline are not allowed in modern-day cricket, one can still bowl quick and short at the batsmen. The Australian pacers on Friday did the same. Despite England struggling with the bat, the Aussie pace trio of Johnson, Harris and Siddle bowled a lot of what can be also termed as chin music to the England batsmen. More surprisingly, they sued the short stuff against the lower middle-order batsmen and tail-enders. They peppered the batsmen time and time again and while it seemed like they were getting carried away, they also took regular wickets.
 
Obviously the main talking point is that England are in real trouble and Australia have the opportunity to win their first Test in 10 matches. England also have been bowled out for less than 200 in their first innings of their last 5 tours. It is not looking good for England as they trail Australia by 224 runs with three day’s play still remaining.
 
(Shrikant Shankar is a writer/reporter at CricketCountry.com. Previously he has done audio commentary for various matches involving India, Indian Premier League and Champions League Twenty20 for ESPNSTAR.com. You can follow him on Twitter @Shrikant_23)