England vs. Australia, 4th Test, Day 2: Ben Stokes Puts Hosts on the Brink
The end is nigh for Australia's Ashes reign.
England ended Day 2 of the fourth Test at Trent Bridge in Nottingham needing just three wickets for a victory that will put them 3-1 up in the series with just one game to go.
Australia were 241 for seven at stumps in their second innings, still 90 runs shy of making their opponents have to bat again.
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Here, after another day of English dominance, are a few takeaways from Friday's action.
The two sides to Mitchell Johnson
Mitchell Johnson has found it tough going on this Ashes tour.
The devastating bowler who blasted England away on Australian soil in 2013/14 has barely been seen during this current series. There was a sustained period of Johnson at his best during Australia's win in the second Test at Lord's, when he took six wickets in the match.
There was also a brief burst on Day 2 at Edgbaston. The left-arm paceman produced two howitzers in one over to dismiss Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes in the morning session.
But, he has taken only 11 wickets in 115.3 overs through four Tests at an average of 39.81. To put that into context, off-spinner Nathan Lyon has a better record, with 12 scalps in the same number of appearances at 29.91.
With his side on their knees heading into Day 2 in Nottingham, Johnson needed to produce an inspired spell to give them any hope of getting back into the match.
Instead, he was totally becalmed. Even when nightwatchman Mark Wood was on strike, the 33-year-old failed to show the type of aggression that had steamrollered England only 18 months ago.
Wood twice hit him over the top of mid-off for four, yet Johnson never responded with the expected bouncer. Even when a short leg was put in place, he just kept bowling length deliveries in the hope of getting wickets in a conventional manner.
He did have some success, dismissing Moeen Ali for 38, but by then England had built a huge lead.
The pressures of captaincy
Alastair Cook has been criticised for his style of leadership in the past.
Shane Warne has had strong words to say on Cook's captaincy, writing in his column for the Telegraph last year: "Mate, you need to improve tactically or England need someone else in the job."
Warne's words are unlikely to have made a difference, but Cook has been a changed man since the start of the English summer.
His confidence in the job was clear on Day 2. He cheekily declared his side's first innings just before lunch, forcing Australia's openers to come out and endure a tricky three-over period prior to the 40-minute break.
Cook also deserves praise for his field settings. England have stationed four slips for much of the match, while he placed Stokes perfectly at short point to get Smith caught for five on the stroke of tea.
Even Piers Morgan took to Twitter to praise England's skipper:
In contrast to his opposite number, Michael Clarke has had a rotten series.
His side have, bar the second Test at Lord's, played poorly. Clarke's own form has been an issue too, and he took the decision to drop down the order and bat at five for the Test at Trent Bridge.
After perishing attempting to play positively in the first innings, he tried his best to occupy the crease on Day 2, battling away for 37 balls before he was caught by Ian Bell at second slip.
Clarke's highest score in the series is 38, and he looks certain to be heading home without the Ashes in his possession.
Questions will be asked if he is the right man to lead Australia forward. The inquest into the series, and his role as skipper, will start long before he gets back home.
Stokes on fire
Ben Stokes' bowling had previously promised much but delivered far too little. He's capable of bowling quickly yet had picked up just two wickets in the series going into the fourth Test.
However, the Durham all-rounder produced an inspired spell either side of tea. In a 10-over stint he picked up three for 22, including getting the initial breakthrough that had eluded England for 23.5 overs.
He found Chris Rogers' outside edge, and Joe Root did the rest, flinging himself down to his left to take an excellent catch in the slips.
Stokes also took a wicket with the final ball of both the 26th and 28th overs, David Warner and Shaun Marsh his other victims, as he showed his ability to swing the ball both ways.
His burst also demonstrated the value of picking an all-rounder in your XI. How Australia must have wished they could have called on a fifth bowler during England's innings of 391 for nine declared.
They had taken the decision to drop all-rounder Mitchell Marsh from the team at Trent Bridge to accommodate his older brother. Daniel Brettig of ESPN Cricinfo questioned the visiting side's selection policy on Twitter:
Not content with his three scalps, Stokes returned in the closing overs to complete his second Test five-wicket haul. Had it not been for bad light, you fancied he could have finished the job on Friday evening.
Catches win matches
While the quality of batting seen at Trent Bridge has been mixed to say the least, particularly from an Australian point of view, there have been some sensational catches taken during the contest.
It's time now to pick your favourite.
First up among the shortlist, Stokes' right-handed effort in Australia's first innings on Day 1. He somehow seemed to reach backward with his arm outstretched to reel in the chance from Adam Voges' bat.
The second nominee is Smith's effort to dismiss Moeen Ali on Day 2. His flying grab was similar to the stunner that former England captain Andrew Strauss took at the same venue in 2005:
The other place on the podium goes to Root for his left-handed catch that saw the end of Rogers for 52.
"Chris Rogers 52(83) c Joe Root b Ben Stokes http://t.co/IkO9hcqGtg #ENGvAUS #Ashes #Ashes2015 #cricingif pic.twitter.com/UIvAR63PYI
— Cricingif (@cricingif) August 7, 2015"
Occasionally, however, catching can be a team effort. Cook nearly fluffed his lines when Mark Wood found Clarke's outside edge, but Bell was there to mop things up.
Let us know your personal 1-2-3 for catch of the match by using the comments section.
All stats used in the article are from ESPN Cricinfo.
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