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November 25, 2013

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Johnson bowls Australia to big victory in Ashes opener

Rejuvenated Australia paceman Mitchell Johnson blitzed England with a haul of five for 42 to lead his country to an emphatic 381-run victory in the first Ashes test yesterday.

It was a first win in 10 tests for Australia after losing a series 0-4 in India and another in England 0-3 this year, and a first triumph in eight Ashes contests since the Perth test in 2010.

The weather, which delayed play twice for more than two hours, at one stage looked like extending the sometimes fractious contest into a fifth day before Johnson stepped up to polish off the final English batsmen in the Gabba twilight.

England’s hopes of any kind of result in Brisbane had been slim at best when it was set a record 561 to win and finished Saturday on 24-2.

They were shattered when the dismissal of captain Alastair Cook for 65 triggered a collapse from 142-4 to 160-8 in the 45 minutes between the two weather disruptions. The victory was a confirmation of a renewed sense of confidence in the Australia team after a miserable year.

“As a team, we’ve copped a fair bit of criticism of late, and our performances have probably deserved that,” said Australia captain Michael Clarke.

Left-arm quick Johnson, who took 4-61 as the tourists were skittled for 136 in their first innings and contributed 103 runs with the bat, was named Man of the Match after claiming his eighth test five-wicket haul.


 

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