Australia's newspapers gloated today that it's payback time in the Ashes after their team's bowlers humbled England's batsmen at the Gabba.
Recalled paceman Mitchell Johnson returned to his brutal best as Australia blew away England for just 136 to turn the first Ashes Test on its head and hold an overall lead of 224 runs with 10 wickets intact after Friday's second day.
Australia, trying to avoid losing four Ashes series in a row for the first time in 123 years, are in a commanding position to remain unbeaten at the Gabba for 25 years.
"It's payback time at the Gabba this weekend," News Limited's Robert Craddock trumpeted.
"A Test victory should await rampaging Australia .... The next few days are a rare and precious chance for Australia to set themselves up for the summer by trying to break England's four-man attack in the field, getting a previously ropey top order into form and keeping England's key batting weapons pondering where their next run is coming from."
The Daily Telegraph's Malcolm Conn likened Johnson's bowling performance to the raw aggression of Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson in the 1970s.
"Fast bowling is in Australia's DNA. It has a loud and proud heritage which was enhanced at the Gabba as terrified England batsmen were humiliated," Conn said.
"It was a bone-rattling, helmet crashing display from Johnson and on Friday's performance it is remarkable to think that Johnson was not considered among the best five fast bowlers in the country when he was ignored for the last Ashes tour.
