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Anderson, Broad help England seize control on Day II

Last updated on: December 27, 2013 14:35 IST
Stuart Broad of England celebrates with James Anderson after dismissing Steve Smith of Australia

Australia were 164 for 9 in response to England's first innings 255, at close on the second day of the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday.

- Scorecard

Brad Haddin was unbeaten on 43, with the hosts 91 runs adrift of the visitors' first innings total and just one wicket left.

Australia suffered a batting collapse as the English bowling attack got into a rhythm for the first time in the series. Stuart Broad was the pick of the England bowlers, with figures of three for 30.

James Anderson (3-50) and Tim Bresnan (2-24) also played significant roles in ensuring the Aussie collapse.

Australia hold an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-Test series.

Earlier, Mitchell Johnson captured three quick wickets as England were bowled out for 255 in less than an hour before lunch. 

Johnson completed his third five-wicket haul of the series

Last updated on: December 27, 2013 14:35 IST
Mitchell Johnson acknowledges the crowd after taking five wickets during day two of the fourth Ashes Test

England resumed on 226-6, but Johnson struck in the second over of the morning with his first delivery to remove Tim Bresnan for one, the all-rounder fending off a venomous, rising ball to give a scrambling George Bailey a simple catch at square leg.

Man of the match in the first two Tests, Johnson finished the innings with 5-63, but took 5-18 from nine overs with the new ball taken late on day one.

Johnson now has 10 five-wicket hauls in Tests, with five coming against England and three this series.

"It's going alright," Johnson said in a pitch side interview.

Pietersen added just four runs to his overnight score

Last updated on: December 27, 2013 14:35 IST
Kevin Pietersen of England walks off after his dismissal

Pietersen, unbeaten on 67, could add just four runs to his overnight score.

Johnson bowled him for 71 when the South Africa-born batsman swiped across the line in a horrible attempted slog that will do little to silence his detractors.

Stuart Broad came out swinging, smacking a pair of boundaries off Ryan Harris before nearly being caught and bowled by the seamer when on 10.

The 32-year-old Queenslander Johnson then roared in to trap Broad in front for 11, in almost exactly the same fashion as the dismissal that saw the paceman suffer a foot injury in the third Test in Perth.

Number 10 James Anderson showed some defiance to block out Johnson and smacked Nathan Lyon over his head for four, but the spinner soon captured the final wicket of Monty Panesar for two.

Anderson ensured early breakthroughs for England

Last updated on: December 27, 2013 14:35 IST
James Anderson of England celebrates taking the wicket of David Warner of Australia

England captured two quick wickets to leave Australia on 38 for two at lunch.

Paceman James Anderson removed dangerous opener David Warner for nine before all-rounder Ben Stokes dismissed number three Shane Watson for 10 shortly before the break.

Australia captain Michael Clarke's troubles at the MCG against England continued when he became the third batsman of the match to be bowled when not offering a shot.

Averaging a paltry 12 against England at the ground, Clarke was dismissed for 10 by a James Anderson delivery that swung in from outside off-stump.

Anderson returned to have George Bailey (0) caught behind.

Rogers recovered to score a fighting 61

Last updated on: December 27, 2013 14:35 IST
Chris Rogers of Australia recovers after he was struck in the head by a delivery from Stuart Broad of England

Chris Rogers was left bleeding from the head from a Stuart Broad delivery but recovered to post a fighting half-century.

Rogers was dazed shortly after lunch when pacer Broad struck him in the helmet and had blood wiped away from his temple by medical personnel in front of a crowd of more than 71,000 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The 36-year-old dusted himself down, and put on a new helmet to raise his 50 shortly before tea.

Rogers managed 61, his fifth Test fifty, before Tim Bresnan had him caught by Pietersen at mid-off.

However, save Haddin, none of the other Australian batsmen failed to make an impact.