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Mitchell Johnson became Australia’s unlikely hero as the struggling left-arm quick returned to form with a career-best haul to swing the third Test against the West Indies back in his side’s favour at Kensington Oval.
Australia claimed a handy 35-run first innings lead in Barbados after the Windies crumbled from a position of power at 4-167 at tea to be all out for 216, despite another unbeaten half-century to run-machine Shivnarine Chanderpaul (79 not out).
The touring side increased their advantage to 70 at stumps on day two, with Phil Jaques (13no) and Simon Katich (17no) surviving until stumps at 0-35.
Johnson, who before today was averaging close to 50 with the ball this series, sparked the Windies afternoon collapse with the key breakthrough of Dwayne Bravo (29), caught off his glove down the leg side, before cleaning up the tail.
The Queenslander began his second spell with the unflattering figures of 0-31 from four overs, but took a remarkable 4-10 in 7.5 after tea to finish with a career best 4-41.
With a bit of luck, he could have easily added a fifth scalp had Simon Katich not grassed two straight forward chances at first slip – neither of which cost Australia, however.
Brett Lee claimed 3-64, including both openers to have the Windies 2-26 early, with Stuart Clark (1-41), Andrew Symonds (1-17) and Michael Clarke (1-3) the other wicket takers.
Chanderpaul was once again the mainstay of the home side’s innings.
After back-to-back hundreds in the first two Tests, the veteran left hander has now scored 392 runs at the amazing average of 196 this series.
He has also not been dismissed since the first Test, having added 261 runs without losing his wicket in both Antigua and Barbados.
With Xavier Marshall (39), he added 44 for the fifth wicket and then 60 with Bravo.
But not for the first time in recent history, he was left helpless as the Windies’ lower order succumbed meekly around him.
Left-arm wrist spinner Beau Casson (0-43) had a so-so debut with the ball, showing a few variations early, before being hit out of the attack by Chanderpaul after going for 18 runs in his seventh and final over.
He had a much better time of it in the field.
Katich’s two drops after tea sullied what had otherwise been a superb all-round fielding performance by the Australians – highlighted by a pair of spectacular diving catches from Casson and Michael Hussey.
Casson claimed a spectacular diving effort at mid-off to dismiss a stunned skipper Chris Gayle (14), who had cracked a full blooded drive off Lee .
Not to be outdone, Hussey dived at full stretch to his right at gully to send Ramnaresh Sarwan (20) on his way off the bowling of Clark.
Australia were earlier dismissed for 251 after losing their final three wickets for 25 this morning.
Lee added a valuable 23 not out with Fidel Edwards (3-55) and Jerome Taylor (3-46) finishing off the innings inside the opening hour of the morning session.
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