Spark back for Johnson

Mitchell Johnson rediscovered the magic he left in South Africa as Australia steamrolled within touch of victory against England in the fourth Test at Headingley on Saturday night.

Had there been provisions for an extra half hour of play, the Test match may not have seen a third day after England lost five wickets from just 44 balls.

It will enter the last day trailing by 261 runs and in need of three days of rain to preserve its 1-0 series lead.

Johnson, whose position in the side hung by a thread after poor performances at Cardiff and Lord's, resurrected his campaign with a scintillating burst late on the second day.

In the space of 14 balls, Johnson claimed the wickets of Ian Bell, Paul Collingwood and Alastair Cook for the concession of just one run.

It could have been four wickets in 20 balls had Marcus North, who had earlier made a century, not grassed Matt Prior at third slip off the final ball of the day.

As well as Prior batted in the first innings, that reprieve will prove irrelevant so long as Australia maintains a ruthlessness it has not shown since the departure of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.

Johnson, although still subject to spraying the odd delivery, upon managing to swing the ball back into the right-hander proved unplayable.

His dismissal of Paul Collingwood was an essay in control and cricket nous.

After dragging Collingwood wider and wider with a series of balls angled across the right-hander, Johnson had his man lbw with one which curled back onto his pads.

Johnson's metamorphosis from the oppressed to the oppressor vindicated the faith shown in him by selectors, who refused to axe him though would have been forgiven for doing so.

"England supporters are starting to see, the way he bowled in South Africa is kind of the way he bowled here," North said.

"All players have their ups and downs and we know he's had a difficult month, but he showed great signs at Edgbaston."

"(He) worked very hard at his game and got the ball swinging late, like in South Africa. (It's) great to see a guy getting the rewards he deserves."

Having spent much of this series pasting Johnson to all parts of the ground before publicly reminding the left-armer they had his measure, the English are now retreating like a bully that has been given his comeuppance.

"You need a bit of luck as a bowler and he's had a bit of luck. He's also got the ball in the right areas more consistently and caused our batsmen a lot more trouble," said Stuart Broad, who also enjoyed his best day of the series, collecting a career-best 6-91.

"We knew he was a world class talent. When he came into the series he had a fantastic record in Test matches."

"I know the media built him up to be struggling but we knew we had to be very aware of what he can do, and he's proven he can take wickets."