The Ashes: Johnson leads Aussie fightback

A thunderous spell by Mitchell Johnson has roused Australia from the deepest of Ashes slumbers, so long as the remaining batsmen do not drift off at the crease.

On the best day of the series since its first at the Gabba, a previously impregnable England were rounded up for 187 in reply to Australia's 268, before the home side pushed through to 3-119 at the close for a lead of 200.

Shane Watson (61no) and Mike Hussey (24no) are charged with ensuring Johnson's startling 6-38, including a pre-lunch burst of 4-7, does not go unrewarded.

Their burgeoning stand followed the second failures in as many days by Phil Hughes (12), captain Ricky Ponting (one) and his deputy Michael Clarke (20).

Hughes showed his outside edge is as vulnerable as his inside, nicking Steven Finn (2-48) into the slips, while Ponting nibbled down the legside for his fifth low score in six Test innings this summer and Clarke's angled bat dragged Chris Tremlett (1-20) onto the stumps.

The batsmen's struggles should not detract from Johnson, who proved to everyone present at the WACA ground that the irresistible stuff he produced in South Africa early last year can be more than a one-off.

Resuming at 0-29, the tourists were splintered when Johnson conjured the kind of late inswing he has struggled to find across the past 18 months.

"Just seeing that ball swing like it did, it was very exciting for me," he told Channel Nine.

Ryan Harris (3-59) and Peter Siddle (1-25) chimed in while Ben Hilfenhaus (0-53) deserved plaudits for an unrewarded spell in support of Johnson.

Johnson had looked rhythmic in his few overs on the first evening, and he set about England with purpose, pace and venomous late swing.

First he prompted a sliced drive to point from Alastair Cook (32), for his first score of less than 67 in the series.

In Johnson's next over Jonathan Trott (four) was beaten completely by a ball that swung down the line for a clear lbw verdict.

Three balls later he did the same to Kevin Pietersen (zero), who reviewed the decision only to find leg stump being knocked over.

Harris then replaced Hilfenhaus with instant results, coaxing another edge from Strauss that this time travelled directly to Haddin.

Paul Collingwood became the third victim of swing when he was nowhere near a delivery that on referral had done just enough to strike him in line, and at the right height.

Matt Prior added a desperate 47 with Ian Bell (53), before Siddle pounded down numerous short balls and a frustrated Prior knocked one onto the stumps.

Swann touched a Harris outswinger through to Haddin, who celebrated his catch in the direction of the Barmy Army.

Bell had made his third attractive half century of the series when Harris coaxed a drive that was sliced high to Ricky Ponting at second slip.

Chris Tremlett lost his off stump to another ball swerving in at him for Johnson's fifth, and Jimmy Anderson wafted outside off stump to give the bowler his best Test figures since plucking 8-61 against the Proteas on this ground two years ago.

Australia 1st innings 268 (M. Johnson 62, M. Hussey 61, B. Haddin 53; J. Anderson 3-61, C. Tremlett 3-63)

England 1st innings:

A. Strauss c Haddin b Harris 52
A. Cook c Hussey b Johnson 32
J. Trott lbw Johnson 4
K. Pietersen lbw Johnson 0
P. Collingwood lbw Johnson 5
I. Bell c Ponting b Harris 53
M. Prior b Siddle 12
G. Swann c Haddin b Harris 11
C. Tremlett b Johnson 2
J. Anderson c Watson b Johnson 0
S. Finn not out 1

Extras (8b 4lb 1w 2nb) 15
Total (all out; 62.3 overs) 187
Fall of wickets: 1-78 (Cook), 2-82 (Trott), 3-82 (Pietersen), 4-94 (Strauss), 5-98 (Collingwood), 6-145 (Prior), 7-181 (Swann), 8-186 (Bell), 9-186 (Tremlett), 10-187 (Anderson).
Bowling: B. Hilfenhaus 21-6-53-0 (1nb), R. Harris 15-4-59-3 (1w), P. Siddle 9-2-25-1 (1nb), M. Johnson 17.3-5-38-6.

Australia 2nd innings:

S. Watson not out 61
P. Hughes c Collingwood b Finn 1
R. Ponting c Prior b Finn 1
M. Clarke b Tremlett 20
M. Hussey not out 24

Extras (1nb) 1
Total (for 3 wickets, 33 overs) 119
Fall of wickets: 1-31 (Hughes), 2-34 (Ponting), 3-64 (Clarke).
Bowling: J. Anderson 11-5-25-0, C. Tremlett 9-2-20-1, S. Finn 9-1-48-2 (1nb), G. Swann 4-0-26-0.
Toss: England

Umpires: Marais Erasmus (RSA), Billy Doctrove (WIS)
TV umpire: Aleem Dar (PAK)
Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)

- AAP / AFP