Australia shattered England’s batting with six wickets for nine runs in a stunning mid-afternoon spell before dis-missing the tourists for 136 and taking a lead of 224 on day two of the first Ashes test yesterday.

Openers David Warner (45) and Chris Rogers (15) backed up the bowlers by batting out a gloomy final session at the Gabba and will resume at 65 without loss in Australia’s second innings today.

Oft-pilloried paceman Mitchell Johnson led the way with four for 61 as Australia transformed their prospects in the match after a disap-pointing opening day and being bowled out for 295 in the first hour yesterday.

The revitalised left-arm quick was at his best and was ably supported by fellow paceman Ryan Harris (3-28) and spinner Nathan Lyon (2-17) as the hosts put them-selves in a good position to win a first test in 10 matches.

“You had to earn the right to have sessions like that and I thought we built the pressure quite well,” said wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, whose 94 kept Australia from a similarly dismal score in their first innings.

“We’ve got a long way to go in this test match so it’s up to us to make sure we’re on.”

Despite the losses of captain Alastair Cook for 13 and Jonathan Trott for 10 before lunch, England looked to be making steady progress towards a reasonable score at 82-2 midway through the second session.

Haddin, though, said bow-ling coach Craig McDermott, returning for this series after quitting last year, had laid down the law to the bowlers at the lunch break.

“He told the bowlers in no uncertain terms where he wanted things to be and we came back after the break and got our lengths right,” he said.