There are obviously more than a few storm clouds gathering over the Gabba – will day three reveal a retaliation plan from the Poms? Will this be Bodyline, Harold Larwood-style, in reverse?
With a night’s rest, some massage and super vitamins, England have no option than to repay the compliment, or be forever regarded as complete Nancies.
Mitchell Johnson led Ryan Harris to serve up a terrorising barrage, which I doubt any team in world cricket, batting on the Gabba today, could have withstood.
It is well and good for Sir Ian ‘Happy in Retirement’ Botham to blast the courage of England’s bats. I would like to see him with a bat in his hand.
Many ex-greats have mouthed similar things today on Channel Nine and elsewhere. Secretly, they too would have been very happy to be in air conditioned comfort for the afternoon.
Think of India, South Africa, New Zealand, Pakistan, West Indies or Sri Lanka batting against Johnson, Harris and Peter Siddle. Throw in Nathan Lyon’s bounce and I reckon 136 is a great score.
Even Sachin Tendulkar would have been terrified. Watching Johnson on the box, he will be glad he is retired.
MS Dhoni would take him on. But I can’t think of one batsman who would relish facing Johnson, with the ball constantly at head and throat at 150 kph.
Death on a cricket pitch has never been so close. Broken fingers, ribs and collar bones were millimetres from reality.
The key to Test matches in the past four or five years has been unnerving accuracy of all quick bowlers, swing, reverse and seam. Spinners use flight and turn.
But Johnson, had he bowled in all five Tests in a dry English summer just months ago, would not have been anywhere near as effective as he was today at the Gabba.
Go to the nets some time and watch the quicks loosening up. Then imagine a ball coming at that pace right at your face.
It is enough to curdle your faeces.
The reaction from some scribes and commentators has been muted because they are Australian, and we haven’t won a game since forever.
But I have a feeling the Poms are not going to take this lying down.
And if Chris Tremlett doesn’t fire up, Boyd Rankin and Broad will. There are still five Tests to be completed the way I read it.
Let’s see if the Nine Network will have to produce Bodyline 2 after this series.
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