Johnson evokes memories of Lillee

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 07 Desember 2013 | 22.07

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NOTHING generates electricity in cricket like a frightening fast bowler.

The roar of another near capacity crowd at Adelaide Oval on Saturday as Mitchell Johnson demolished England again revived the halcyon days of the 1970s.

With that brooding moustache Johnson could have been a mirror imagine of Dennis Lillee with the crescendo of 35,000 fans propelling Australia's latest hero of destruction to the wicket.

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This was raw and brutal stuff as batsmen dodged and weaved, sometimes more concerned about the preservation of their personal safety than their wicket.

In a few overs of mayhem shortly after lunch on the third day Johnson had the crowd roaring like they did when Lillee was steaming in three or four decades ago.

Stumps were scattered and flattened, catches flew into the cordon and twice Johnson was on a hat-trick as he completely dismembered the hapless tourists.

From the beginning of his 14th over to the last ball of his 16th Johnson claimed 5-12 in 18 balls. It was breath-taking stuff.

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He returned to bowl last man Monty Panesar after an annoying partnership, finishing with the remarkable figures of 7-40 and walking off to a standing ovation.

Johnson's dismissal of Matt Prior as part of that ruthless demolition was a metaphor for the sudden and stark reversal of form and fortune on both sides.

After breaking down with a serious foot injury in South Africa two years ago it appeared that was the end of Johnson's Test career. Even he was looking for a way out of the side his form was so poor.

Mitchell Johnson acknowledges applause from the spectators. AFP PHOTO / Saeed KHAN Source: AFP

And as a wicket-keeper batsman Prior, now vice-captain, has been a central figure in the rise of England cricket, which made it all the way to number one before being deposed by South Africa, and winning the last three Ashes series.

Now Johnson is key to Australia's rampaging charge towards regaining the Ashes and Prior's game is a mess, leaving England with a long and often helpless tail.

Prior lasted just four balls on Saturday, all from Johnson, as England's resolve evaporated. The first delivery was straightforward and Prior tucked it to mid-wicket for no run.

But the second was a nasty short ball that hit him in the chest playing an ugly fend and the third was another shot ball which Prior was forced to hastily evade.

With the crowd now baying for blood in this spectacular, new, if as yet unfinished colosseum, Prior pushed feebly at a full ball sliding across him to be caught behind by Brad Haddin.

It was Prior's second duck in his first three innings of the series. He has managed to face a total of 13 balls for just four runs, a single scoring shot during the first Test in Brisbane as England were flogged by 381 runs at the Gabba.

By contrast his Australian counterpart Brad Haddin is leading the series averages (88) and aggregate (265).

He followed 94 and 53 in Brisbane with a century in Adelaide but like many of the well performed Australians, has been pushed into sideshow alley by a rampant Johnson.

There is nothing like a terrifying fast bowler.


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