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Australia v India: Mitchell Johnson's innings key to turnaround, says Steven Smith

Tail did 'remarkably' to propel hosts to 505, says captain

Image: Johnson (R) raises his bat after reaching fifty in Brisbane

Steven Smith heaped praise on Mitchell Johnson after the left-hander’s brutal 88 helped Australia secure a first-innings lead over India in the second Test.

I said before the Test match that I wanted to lead from the front with my performances, so hopefully I've done that.
Steven Smith

Johnson strode to the crease on day three with the Baggy Greens in trouble on 247-6, but he crunched 13 fours and a six during a 93-ball 88 and put on a Gabba record seventh-wicket partnership of 148 with centurion Smith (133).

Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood also plundered late runs as Australia were finally bowled out for 505 and with a lead of 97, but Smith says Johnson was the catalyst for the fightback.

"It was six for 240-odd and India were bowling well, but Mitchell came out and really took it to the Indian bowlers,” said Australia captain Smith, who saw India close their deficit to 26 runs at stumps after reaching 71-1.

"They tried to be quite aggressive with Mitch, bowling short and trying to get stuck into him, but I think that played into his favour. Mitch took them on and they didn't have an answer."

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"Our whole tail batted beautifully. To get us above 500 was remarkable, and when your tail bats like that it's always a nightmare for the opposition.

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“We had a good day of cricket and hopefully we start well in the morning and pick up a few wickets."

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India had taken two quick wickets on Friday, with Mitchell Marsh castled by Ishant Sharma and Brad Haddin gloving to short leg, but were then given the treatment with Australia adding 248 runs for the last four wickets in Brisbane.

India seamer Umesh Yadav, who claimed the scalps of David Warner, Chris Rogers and Shaun Marsh on day two, reckons his side were made to pay for bowling too many short deliveries.

"We took two early wickets in the morning, but after that there were too many bouncers," he said.

“We started trying different things and we were trying our best but sometimes we were leaking runs."

Watch day four of the second Test between Australia and India, from 11.55pm, Friday, Sky Sports 2.

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