England lose momentum in top order collapse in the second innings of the fourth test…
Following England’s solid morning session, the side went on to lose four wickets for just fifty runs. Mitchel Johnson picked up the crucial wicket of England skipper Ashley Cook, who made a smooth half-century, while spinner Nathan Lyon got rid of Ian Bell and Ben Stokes.
Cook, who celebrated his 29th birthday on Christmas Day, had earlier became the youngest player to score 8,000 Test runs before he became Johnson’s 29th wicket of the series.
Opening partner Michael Carberry went the same way to Peter Siddle for 12 off 81 balls before Joe Root was run out by an athletic piece of fielding from Johnson.
Root, who survived a review for caught behind off Johnson, on 15 scampered for a single only for Johnson to throw down his stumps at the bowler’s end with the batsman well short of his ground.
Two balls later Ian Bell hit spinner Nathan Lyon straight to Johnson at mid-off for a first-ball duck and England were suddenly vulnerable with a lead of 138 runs with six wickets in hand.
At tea, England were 115 for four with Kevin Pietersen on 14 and Ben Stokes not out 13 to lead by 166 runs.
You can watch the wickets tumble, here:
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