Australia surged back into contention in the fourth Ashes Test on a back of a sensational spell of cricket from Mitchell Johnson against England in Melbourne today.
Johnson, the man of the series, played a role in three of four dismissals to have the tourists tumbling from 65 without loss to 87 for four in the middle session on day three.
England, holding an innings lead of 51 after dismissing the home side for 204, were travelling along comfortably until Johnson trapped skipper Alastair Cook leg before wicket for 51 in the 22nd over of the second innings.
Cook, who celebrated his 29th birthday on Christmas Day, had earlier became the youngest player to score 8,000 Test runs before he became Johnson's 29th wicket of the series.
Opening partner Michael Carberry went the same way to Peter Siddle for 12 off 81 balls before Joe Root was run out by an athletic piece of fielding from Johnson.
Root, who survived a review for caught behind off Johnson, on 15 scampered for a single only for Johnson to throw down his stumps at the bowler's end with the batsman well short of his ground.
Two balls later Ian Bell hit spinner Nathan Lyon straight to Johnson at mid-off for a first-ball duck and England were suddenly vulnerable with a lead of 138 runs with six wickets in hand.
At tea, England were 115 for four with Kevin Pietersen on 14 and Ben Stokes not out 13 to lead by 166 runs.
Pietersen was fortunate not to be run out on six when Siddle's throw just missed the stumps with the English batsman well short of making his ground.
