AUSTRALIA was given a glimpse of their worst nightmare at the MCG, as Mitchell Johnson was smashed around for the first time since his career renaissance before leaving the field with a hamstring scare.
The good news on an otherwise disastrous day three for the hosts was that Johnson returned to action and lion-hearted quick Ryan Harris (4-69) stemmed the tide late as India finished 8-462 to trail by 68 runs at stumps.
But the bad news was the hosts squandered their stranglehold on the third Test as a brilliant 262-run partnership from Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane showcased to England how taking down Johnson can expose Australia.
Kohli and Johnson engaged in an ongoing battle, both verbal and with bat and ball, and the Indian firebrand declared he doesn’t fear the Australian spearhead.
“I just backed myself that I can take him on,” Kohli said.
“His job is to bowl and get wickets and he was going at 4.7 an over today.
“You can’t back off after saying a few words and then not show it with your skill.
“So I decided when he comes onto bowl, I’m going to … take him on as well.”
Since Steve Smith took over as Australian captain everything he’s touched has turned to gold, but on Sunday he experienced utter despair and was exposed to criticism for the first time for his perceived defensive tactics.
Test greats Shane Warne and Bill Lawry questioned Smith’s fields defending 530, as a lack of pressure allowed Kohli (169) and Rahane (147) to surge to career high scores in a stand where they scored at 4.5 an over.
Australia had another horrible day in the field, grassing three catches and misjudging another to give India a giant leg-up in their bid to keep the series alive.
A year after destroying England on Boxing Day, Johnson was taken apart by Virat Kohli and Ajinkya for figures of 1-133 off 29.2 overs.
His only joy came right at the death, when Brad Haddin took his second stunning screamer of the day to finally send Kohli packing.
Earlier, Kohli reacted angrily when Johnson had a brain snap and threw the ball at him off his own bowling attempting an unlikely run-out.
But in the 99th over, the Indian master-blaster got his own back when he smashed Johnson to the fence on three consecutive deliveries.
Two overs later, Rahane took over and clubbed the Australian spearhead for two fours over mid-wicket and another through the off-side.
Since Johnson made his stunning return to Test cricket at the start of last summer’s Ashes, rarely has he been taken to breaking point.
But on Sunday an aggressive India proved Johnson is still human.
Australia captain Michael Clarke revealed during commentary a short time later that Johnson had left the field for treatment on his hamstring, but minutes later he was back on the field and resumed bowling.
It still sent shivers through Australia’s spine, Johnson is one man they can’t afford to lose with a World Cup and Ashes on the horizon.
Harris defended Johnson’s bowling.
“To be honest it’s a pretty flat wicket so it’s hard to get out there and Mitch did his best,” said Harris.
“He did what he does best, trying to be aggressive and bowl bouncers but they batted pretty well, that’s the way it’s.
“Some plans worked, some didn’t.”
Haddin took one of the most breathtaking wicketkeeping catches ever seen at the MCG on just the second ball of the day to get rid of Cheteshwar Pujara and give Harris his second of four wickets.
Shane Watson followed up to dismiss danger-man Murali Vijay for 68 and leave India in trouble at 3-147, but from there the wheels fell off and Kohli and Rahane took full advantage.
In the last over before the new ball was due, spinner Nathan Lyon dropped an absolute sitter off his own bowling to give Rahane a life on 70.
Then Kohli on 88 nicked one between Haddin and Shane Watson, but the keeper didn’t move and the first-slip grassed the catch going too late to his left.
Lyon finally got Rahane lbw, and he also claimed the wicket of debutant Lokesh Rahul — but not before Peter Siddle had added to the clangers by dropping him the previous ball.
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