Australia have squared the Ashes series in emphatic fashion, crushing England by 405 runs on day four of the second Test.
Mitchell Johnson claimed the vital scalp of Alastair Cook then helped slice through the middle order on Sunday, enjoying Lord’s redemption as England were skittled for 103 in just 37 overs.
It was England’s lowest total at Lord’s since 1997.
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The tourists were 1-362 on day two after an epic 284-run partnership from Chris Rogers and Steve Smith.
From that point on they remained in the box seat to bounce back from a 169-run loss in Cardiff and level the series at 1-1.
But the meek manner in which England capitulated, coupled with Smith’s maiden double-century, will further boost Australia’s confidence before the third Test starts at Edgbaston on July 29.
Johnson sent down a double-wicket maiden after tea, both wickets earned through express pace.
Jos Buttler was caught behind, while Moeen Ali popped up a bouncer to substitute fielder Shaun Marsh at short leg.
“They still fear him by the way they’ve played him in this match,” Shane Warne said on Sky Sports.
“Everyone’s talking about how flat the pitch is. To roll over like they have here, to be 6-64, that will disappoint the captain.
“It’s the way you lose and that’s what will disappoint England supporters, the way they’ve folded.”
Michael Clarke declared at 2-254 shortly before lunch on Sunday, setting England a target of 509.
Cook and Adam Lyth survived three overs to make it to the meal break, after which the carnage started.
Lyth and Cook were both caught behind in the space of six overs after lunch, triggering a collapse of 5-40 in the second session.
The lowlight was Ben Stokes being run out for a duck, having committed the schoolboy error of not sliding his bat.
Johnson threw down the stumps with a direct hit as Stokes’ foot hovered above the crease.
“It’s one of the first lessons you’re given, just get your bat in,” stunned former England captain Nasser Hussain said on Sky.
Ian Bell was dropped on 10 in the 21st over, with first slip Adam Voges doing well to get a hand to the ball.
It only cost Australia one run.
Nathan Lyon removed Bell five overs later when Marsh snaffled a straightforward catch at short leg.
Johnson, Lyon and Josh Hazlewood then cleaned up the tail after tea.
“Mitch Johson led from the front again. He bowled a couple of hostile spells for us,” Hazlewood said.
Earlier on Sunday, the tourists added 146 runs in an entertaining and enterprising session of batting.
Australia resumed at 0-108, with Clarke, Mitch Marsh, David Warner and Steve Smith all scoring freely and quickly.
The only concern was veteran opener Chris Rogers, who retired hurt due to a sudden bout of dizziness.
Rogers remained on the Lord’s balcony throughout day four.
AlanKC
Guest
Can I add "Ferderick the Englishman" to that?
AlanKC
Guest
Yep, he has a fine technique for french cricket - I can see him dominating the backyard at Christmas.
AlanKC
Guest
A fine example of why people (men mostly but it applies across both genders) don't generally speak up about mental health issues for fear of being ridiculed and shamed for being "weak". Well done Colin you ridiculous person.
JoM
Roar Rookie
That is probably the most ridiculous thing I have seen from you yet. Mitch J is no longer the person that got intimidated by the Smarmy Army. Quiet? Yes. Shy? Yes. Doesn't like being in the spotlight? Yes. But, after his "breakdown" a few years ago, he went away with one of our best SAS soldiers and worked on mental toughness. If you guys think you will break him you are way off base. The crowd tried it in the first test and it didn't work and it won't if they want to keep trying. Different boy now.
Spooky
Guest
Sam Robson in for rogers if he is not fit
Minz
Guest
I've heard he's very quiet and retiring off the field. Really!
Colinp
Guest
Burns has struggled in County cricket though
Colinp
Guest
Yep he can be poor, but I think he was superb in Cardiff, he bowled beautifully with the new ball... But went missing completely at lords
Colinp
Guest
It does sound silly considering he just obliterated us, but I genuinely think there is something three. Watch his interview with Athers. I've heard him say a few times that he enjoyed the crowd at Lords etc... I'm not saying he's gonna break down in thus series. But it wouldn't t surprise me in the future if he stops playing with mental issues. He really is strangely delicate
Colinp
Guest
Yep Anderson is infuriating, you could see as soon as we lost the toss he wasn't interested. He will still play a part because he's nearly always been exceptional trent bridge. But it's strange, if he gets in a mood with the footmarks, or running on the pitch as at Lords he's toothless. But then he can be exceptional if there is nothing but a touch of reverse, like India. You can tell if he's gonna be poor like he always is at headingley, must be in the mind. Ballance is odd, you don't score as many runs at an average like him without being capable, he actually plays pretty freely when in form, you can see that from his list a numbers, but looks horrible when not in form- like currently. Bell just frustrates me, he bottles it. Cook, stokes and root relish the fight, he doesn't, that why bairstow should come in, he has even more fire than stokes, the antithesis of Bell...
Chui
Guest
Maybe he just needs Warne to call him 'soft' ;)
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
That was actually pretty standard Jimmy Anderson from everything I've ever seen. In conditions that suit him when things are going his way he can be a very dangerous bowler. But when he's not getting much going he pretty much goes missing, has terrible body language, like he just doesn't want to be there, and turns into a bit of a trundler. You can never rule him out of the series because if they get conditions where he's really getting the ball to talk he can be dangerous, but Cardiff was swinging everywhere and even though England won that test, the Aussies mostly handled Anderson pretty well there and he still only got 3 wickets for the match, including going wicketless in the second innings. That's probably more of a worry for him, because those were conditions pretty suited to him.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Interesting comments Colin. At least you acknowledge the superiority of the Aussies in this test. Just as many Aussie supporters acknowleged the superiority of England in Caridff. I continue to be amazed by the composure and patience of Smith and his capacity to play very long innings. The bloke seems to be completely in control of his game and has been for a couple of years now. I too was impressed by the bowling of Mitch Marsh. I didn't realise he was so tall and could extract so much bounce from a flat pitch. I thought he was just a medium pacer but he appears to be much faster than that. The ball to dismiss Ballance was a rip snorter. Gives Clarke so many options now being able to rotate his bowlers in short spells without losing intensity. And Starc's performance was pretty impressive also. After Caridiff I wasn't sure if the team could carry two strike bowlers as well as the steady Hazlewood. Interesting comments you make about the English batters. Haven't been impressed by Ballance and Bell seems to be way down on confidence. Mitch Johnson has been very candid about what a low place he was in after the Ashes series of 2009 - and that the injury he got was a blessing in disguise as it took him out of the spotlight and allowed him to rebuild his technique, fitness and confidence. He's a much more consistent and dangerous bowler than he was earlier in his career. And probably a lot stronger mentally than the bloke who was ridiculed by the Barmy Army and the rest of the English supporters in previous tours. It will take a lot for England to recompose themselves for the next test after this humiliation. Broad has bowled really well without a lot of support and apart from Cook, Root and Stokes the upper order batting looks very fragile.
Albert
Guest
Fair play Aussies much better side. England pathetic Aussies magnificent...just as I said after Cardiff remember 1997. Hopefully England can make a better fist of it at Edgbaston.
Casper
Guest
Surely the aussies need to now call Joe Burns into the squad as cover for the injuries they are inevitably getting because of aging factor. At the least, it would be an investment in the future if he gets to be around the dressing room. Not convinced Warner has returned to form, still plays too many loose shots when you want him to grind them into the ground. This result must confirm the demise of Haddin as test keeper, can't see how they could justify his coming back for the next test. Still think Michael Clarke is on the wane, although he can probably hold his spot for the next year because of past performance. The first innings, when everyone up the other end seemed to be in control while he struggled to get bat on ball, was a worry. Second innings looked better but the pommies had chucked in the towel by then, Broad excepted, so he looked a bit better. How poor was Jimmy Anderson? Never seemed to have the body language of a strike bowler, is he carrying an injury? Winning the toss seems to be the key difference between these two sides, neither seeming capable of chasing down a decent first innings total. Makes for an interesting three tests to come.
JB
Guest
I was really impressed with him, he looks the part
jamesb
Guest
Yep Why hasn't there been much talk around Ballance's technique? Somehow he averages 47 with four test centuries. How did he achieve that?
Uncle Eric
Guest
Wallaby Thrasher are you out there?
Chui
Guest
While the talk of techniques is in vogue, care to comment on Ballance?
GD66
Guest
Magic debut from Peter Nevill with both gloves and bat, certainly didn't look like a test novice on his way to an entertaining 45 and displayed nice, compact keeping. The chance from Bell was a hiccup, but as Rob has pointed out, it only cost 1 run. Seven catches on debut was a great return, well done. And with Mitch Marsh demonstrating he is a game-changer surely he can be kept back no longer so that CA can recoup some of the vast dollars-per-run they have wastefully invested on Watson. Looking good, Australia.