Johnson late strikes thrill record crowd at MCG

Friday, 27 December 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

REUTERS: Mitchell Johnson’s late double strikes fired up a world record test crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and left England a rocky 226 for six after Kevin Pietersen threatened to win the opening day of the fourth Ashes match for the tourists.

Roared on by a heaving crowd of 91,092, paceman Johnson steamed in to remove number six Ben Stokes (14) and wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow (10) in quick succession to put Australia marginally ahead at the end of a meandering Thursday’s play. Coming in to the match under a barrage of criticism, Pietersen responded with a defiant half-century after being granted lives on six and 41, and went to stumps unbeaten on 67, with Tim Bresnan hanging on desperately with one run. With seamer Ryan Harris having Ian Bell caught behind by wicketkeeper Brad Haddin for 27 in the first of three wickets after tea, Australia’s bowlers worked hard to validate captain Michael Clarke’s surprise decision to field after winning his fourth successive toss of the series. The hosts could have been in a stronger position, however, had they not let three catching chances go down, with two reprieving Pietersen. Their bowling attack also suffered a blow with all-rounder Shane Watson sustaining a groin injury. Watson pulled up in his runup and left the ground after lunch, and though he later returned to field in the slips, he did not bowl again.