Wickets tumble in the second session on day two.
England’s excellent start to the first Ashes Test has evaporated in front of their eyes thanks to excellent bowling and loose stroke play, as they limped into tea at 94-8, still 201 runs behind Australia’s first innings total
The amazing collapse happened so quickly, it took the players and crowd by surprise as Alastair Cook and his men struggled to get back into the game as they lost 39-6 in the session.
Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Lyon combined well as they caused havoc in the middle, with both earning big-name wickets.
Peter Siddle was very tight early in the session as he looked to tie up the scoring rate to the established Michael Carberry and new at the crease Pietersen.
Carberry did not take long to pass his previous highest Test score, a modest 34 against Bangladesh, with the veteran left-hander looking at ease at the crease.
Petersen was dropped on eight by Peter Siddle in his follow through, in what was a relativity easy caught and bowled chance.
The cat and mouse game between the Australian attack and Carberry continued as the line slowly crept to outside of off-stump, an area normally favored by the left-hander.
The Australian’s turned to slow bowling for the first time in the game in the 30th over, with Nathan Lyon showing good control early.
Pietersen was dismissed for just 18 in his 100th Test match after he struck a solid shot to mid-wicket
where George Bailey hung onto a smart chance.
Siddle’s dropped chance did not come back to haunt Australia greatly as the score became 82-3.
After his good signs in his first over, Australian captain Michael Clarke backed Nathan Lyon with three men around the bat against the normally good player of spin in Carberry.
Clarke signaled his intent but ordering Johnson to go around-the-wicket to Carberry, with the first ball almost ensuring the plan came off, with the batsman fending at it, before taking a wild swing at the second.
Carberry, who was on 40 for 35 minutes, was out on the third ball with the change of angle seeing Carberry edge to first slip to make the score 87-4, with the away side still 208 runs behind.
The crowd at the Gabba got into the game with plenty of noise pushing Johnson in on his long run-up.
Australia got a double breakthrough when Lyon claimed Bell, after the Englishman gifted an inside edge to the close in man on the leg-side.
Bell walked for just five and England’s woes continued as the score became 87-5.
Drama at the Gabba continued as Matt Prior looked to have gloved his first ball to Steve Smith in the same fashion as the departed Bell.
The catch was declined as out with the Australian side electing to have it reviewed, and upon closer inspection, it was seen as out as the English side slumped to be 87-6.
The Three Lions had lost 4-5 in 40 balls.
Lyon found himself on a hat-trick, and Stuart Broad was given a hostile reception from the Gabba crowd as the Three Lions looked to try and steady the ship.
However, the fateful ball was well wide of Broad who let it through to the wicketkeeper, but it did not change the fact England were in strife mid-way through the second day.
Wickets continued to tumble as Joe Root chased a wide ball from Johnson as Smith grabbed another catch, with England plunging to new depths at 89-7.
England had lost 5-7 off 47 balls.
Johnson struck again soon after when he had Graeme Swann caught at short-leg as England continued to wallow with the score falling to be 91-8, still five runs shy of the follow-on, despite replays later showing Johnson’s front foot flirted with being a no-ball.
The Gabba rumbled with the crowd egging Johnson on, as the faces in the England change-room told the story of an excellent start to their summer gone in a matter of minutes.
COMMENTS