Terrifying pace demon Mitchell Johnson was on a hat-trick twice as the speedster claimed 7-40 to bowl England out for 172 on day three of the second Ashes Test.
Resuming at 1-35 in reply to Australia’s first innings of 9(dec)-570, the tourists were struggling at 4-116 at lunch.
Few would have expected the hurricane that was about to hit Adelaide Oval on a flat batting track.
Leading by 398 on the first innings, Australian captain Michael Clarke has declined to enforce the follow-on.
However, Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin had predicted on Friday night that Johnson’s speed made him dangerous at any Test venue.
Johnson’s ninth five-wicket haul and second in consecutive Tests moves the 32-year-old to 10th on the Australian all-time list with 221, surging ahead of spin great Clarrie Grimmett on 216.
The left-armer’s initial post-lunch spell of 5-16 off five overs included an 18-ball burst that yielded 5-12.
England’s middle-order batting crumbled for the third successive time in the series as the tourists lost 4-6 after being 3-111.
Australia had dismissed Joe Root (15), Kevin Pietersen (four) and Michael Carberry (60) in the first session.
The menacing Johnson with his Dennis Lillee handlebar moustache then claimed three wickets in the third over after lunch.
Debutant Ben Stokes was out lbw for one after a successful referral by Clarke.
Matt Prior looked uncomfortable against Johnson’s short-pitched bowling and was caught behind for a fourth-ball duck, while Stuart Broad was bowled first delivery.
The man Aussie fans love to hate, Broad was booed on arrival, booed as he complained about the sightscreen and mocked on departure.
Four overs later, Johnson dismissed Graeme Swann (seven) caught at second slip and James Anderson bowled for a duck in consecutive balls at 9-135.
Pietersen, who had scored a century and a double hundred in his two previous Adelaide Tests, arrogantly advanced down the pitch to paceman Peter Siddle. The batsman chipped a catch to one of two fielders at short midwicket at 3-66.
Siddle claimed the 101-Test veteran’s wicket for the eighth time, two more than any other bowler.
England batting great Geoff Boycott had seen enough by the time Pietersen departed.
“Shocking shot … absolute shocker. The Ashes are going,” Boycott said on the BBC.
“If I were you, I’d go to sleep if I were in England.”
Showing the restraint that Pietersen lacked, England No.5 Ian Bell finished unbeaten on 72.
Johnson bowled No.11 Monty Panesar for two after being recalled to the attack to end a 37-run stand for the 10th wicket.
Ashes great Terry Alderman told ABC radio that on a flat wicket, it was one of the best bowling exhibitions he’d seen.
