The Ashes opener at the Gabba boiled over at its climax, and the tension between Australia and England has not abated as the hosts close on victory in the second Test, with Mitchell Johnson involved in a physical confrontation with debutant Ben Stokes and then a heated run-in with Stuart Broad on the way off the ground on Sunday.
A demolition job of England in Adelaide led by the reborn Johnson will in all likelihood reach its inevitable conclusion on Monday. Only the emergence of the most unlikely of Faf du Plessis clones or a wildcard from the weather on day five stand between Michael Clarke’s side storming to a 2-0 series lead and placing one hand on the elusive Ashes urn.
Rain is forecast on Monday, and England, set 531 to win and tasked to survive two days with the bat to draw, will need plenty of it. Without assistance from above they have as much chance of holding on as there is of Johnson having a shave in the next month.
Australia’s position of dominance, though, has done nothing to dilute ill-feeling between the two teams.There were indications in Brisbane, when Clarke was fined for his ‘‘broken arm’’ outburst at James Anderson, that relations between the two sets of players could degenerate to the extent that something really ugly takes place on the ground this summer. And the signs are still pointing ominously in that direction after a strained last 30 minutes on Sunday.
As a result of the heavy mid-pitch contact between Johnson and Stokes in Adelaide, an umpire, not for the first time in these Ashes, had to step in to separate players from opposing sides.
Stokes objected when he clattered into Johnson while taking a run, believing the fiery left-armer had changed his line to deliberately trigger a collision. The pair exchanged heated words afterwards, forcing intervention from officialdom, and there was further spice as the fourth day wound down when Clarke and England wicketkeeper Matt Prior traded barbs and then Johnson and Broad engaged in a slanging match as they walked off the ground.
In an unpleasant scene, Broad changed direction and veered towards Johnson on the players’ way off the field, the unpleasantries flying both ways, while Prior and rival gloveman Brad Haddin also had words. Minutes earlier a Johnson thunderbolt had clipped Broad’s bat and crashed into his biceps.
Despite the escalation of animosity, players were keen to play down the disputes. ‘‘‘Pup’ [Clarke] walked in to have a look at the light, and Broady was asking Mitch where to go to dinner tonight,’’ Australian fast bowler Peter Siddle said.
‘‘There wasn’t a lot to it. It’s no more than we’ve ever seen in the history of cricket … You can say what you want but being out there, there is not much being said at all. It’s been a long day and it’s been a tough day, and Mitchell is just trying to get the job done.
‘‘I’ve played 48 Tests now, and I don’t think it’s been any different no matter who we play. It doesn’t matter whether you’re winning or losing, or who you’re coming up against, it’s just part of the game.’’
Johnson, whose aggression has rattled England’s batsmen, was an ever-present adversary on Sunday, delighting in post-delivery addresses to his targets, most prominently the stubborn Joe Root.The 22-year-old Yorkshireman, though, displayed maturity beyond his baby face with a gritty 87 at No.3 that for once left Johnson frustrated, particularly when he reacted to the paceman’s words by smiling.
‘‘I didn’t feel that there was anything going on out there … you want to play hard cricket and it’s Ashes cricket. You’d expect that,’’ Root said. ‘‘You’d be disappointed if there wasn’t a bit of rivalry. I think it makes entertaining cricket to watch. It’s certainly good to be involved in that out there in the middle. You know you’re involved in a battle. You’ve got to front up and fight.’’
Root’s 111-run stand with Kevin Pietersen (53) was comfortably England’s best partnership of the series to date, enabling them to survive into Monday with four wickets remaining.
There was more fight from Stokes in a determined 28 from 90 balls and from Prior (31 not out) and Broad (22 not out) who ushered England to stumps at 6-247, 283 runs behind.
