A fired-up Mitchell Johnson dismissed England captain Alastair Cook cheaply in a hammer blow for the tourists after Australia declared for a mammoth first innings of 570 to be firmly in control after day two of the second Ashes test yesterday.

A day that began with promise for England quickly unravelled in the field as Australia captain Michael Clarke and his deputy Brad Haddin scored centuries in a record sixth-wicket partnership at Adelaide Oval.

Adding insult to injury, Clarke, who struck 148 for his second ton in successive tests, waited until 34-year-old paceman Ryan Harris had compiled his second test 50 before declaring on 570-9 after tea in glorious sunshine.

Johnson then captured the key wicket of Cook for three, beating the England skipper for pace with a searing delivery that knocked over his off-stump and sent a raucous crowd of over 35,000 into paroxysms of delight.

Opener Michael Carberry (20 not out), and Joe Root (nine not out), promoted to number three in place of the departed Jonathan Trott, dug in grimly in the final hour to carry England to 35-1 at the close, still 535 shy of Australia’s total.

Despite losing the toss, England battled hard to earn a share of the spoils on Thursday’s opening day, but squandered their opportunity yesterday when play resumed at 273-5.

Having dropped three catches on Thursday, the tourists committed a number of howlers in the field to allow Clarke and Haddin to notch a 200-run partnership and take the initiative away.

Both teams wore black armbands and the crowd stood for a minute’s silence before the start of play to honour South Africa’s anti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela, who died on Thursday.