England dangermen Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott are back in the pavilion, with Australia’s Ashes bowling plans paying dividends in Brisbane.
England went to lunch at 2-55 on Friday’s day two, after Trott (10) was caught down the leg-side off Mitchell Johnson on the stroke of the break.
Michael Carberry is 31 not out and will be joined after the break by Kevin Pietersen in his 100th Test.
Australia had made no secret of their plan to exploit Trott’s weakness to short-pitched bowling at his body, and Johnson’s return to the attack yielded an immediate result.
That was after spearhead Ryan Harris once again had England captain Cook prodding behind for 13.
Earlier, Brad Haddin ran himself out on 94 to end Australia’s first innings at a sub-par 295, after the home side had earlier resumed on 8-273.
England trail by 240 runs and have faltered early despite starting their innings in the box seat on a belting Gabba wicket.
All eyes were on comeback kid Johnson (1-32) but, despite bowling the fastest spell of the match so far, the left-armer was hooked after just three overs for continuously spraying the ball down leg.
Harris made the important breakthrough of Cook in the 11th over to leave England 1-28.
Last time Cook was in Australia, he scored three centuries and averaged 127.66.
His devastating form led England to a 3-1 triumph back in 2010-11, and it all started in the first Test at the Gabba when he posted 67 and 235 not out.
But recent history suggests Australia have turned the tables on Cook.
Fast bowlers Harris and Peter Siddle regularly found Cook’s outside edge during the last series in the UK earlier this year, when he averaged just 27.7 and only passed 50 twice.
Harris landed an important psychological blow on Friday, by nicking off Cook with a ball that barely even moved.
Cook’s exit prompted Johnson’s return to the attack and, although he continued to bowl poorly to second-Test rookie Carberry, the menacing left-armer managed to get in Trott’s grill straight away.
In the 16th over, Johnson had one climb up towards the England No.3’s face, before he managed to get his gloves in the way.
