Johnson winds back the clock
Handed the new ball by skipper Michael Clarke after the visitors won the toss and elected to bat, Johnson ripped through the Sri Lankan batting line-up with a hostile display that reaped 4-63 including his 200th Test wicket in front of 67,138 fans.
Debutant Jackson Bird (2-32), who was presented his Baggy Green by Victorian legend Bill Lawry before play started, struck with just his 10th delivery and was well supported by Commonwealth Bank Bushrangers firebrand Peter Siddle (2-30).
Spinner Nathan Lyon (2-23) cleaned up the tail to rout Sri Lanka for 156 in 43.4 overs, with Australia erasing all but six runs from the deficit with seven wickets in hand at stumps.
Having become just the 14th Australia to collect 200 Test wickets, Johnson, who captured his best figures in a Boxing Day Test in five visits to the Melbourne coliseum, was understandably upbeat at the end of play.
“It’s great having personal milestones,” the 31-year-old said.
“To be able to be in the 200 club, I’m very happy about that.”
Having early notched his own personal milestone with 10,000 Test runs, Kumar Sangakkara (58) became Johnson’s 200th victim when Bushrangers gloveman Matthew Wade took a spectacular running catch to light up the ‘G.
“When (Wade) first went back, I thought he was going to get it,” Johnson said.
“And then I thought the wind had picked it up and he wasn’t going to get it.
“And at the last moment, I thought he was definitely going to get it.
“It was an unbelievable catch and then he threw it over the fence for six, so luckily he held onto it for long enough.”
Australian openers David Warner (62) and Ed Cowan (36) put on 95 for the opening wicket before the former was caught pulling near the boundary from just 46 balls including six boundaries and an incredible six.
Cowan joined him shortly before stumps, having earlier been involved in a dreadful run out with Phil Hughes, who was caught meters out of his ground for 10.
Despite being handed a life each, Shane Watson (13*) and Clarke (20*) ensured Australia reached 3-150 at stumps.
To see the full scorecard, click here.
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