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Pick of the day

We review day two of the opening Ashes Test at The Gabba

Mitchell Johnson of Australia bowls during day two of the First Ashes Test match between Australia and England at The Gabba on November 22, 2013 in Brisbane, Australia
Image: Mitchell Johnson: Australia fast bowler claimed four wickets in quick time on day two

The opening Test at The Gabba went into fast-forward mode on day two with 12 wickets going down in blameless conditions.

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Bouncing again

Shane Warne was impressed by the way Mitchell Johnson used the short ball to put England under pressure and thinks the tourists are in for more of the same as the series progresses. Warne said: "Australia had the X-factor of Mitchell Johnson bowling fast - he was bowling consistently around 90mph plus - and he got it right. He looked a completely different bowler; there was no-one who really looked comfortable against the short ball. Jonathan Trott looked horribly uncomfortable and fell back into his old ways of walking so far across that he had no balance at the crease; it always looked like he was going to get out somewhere at leg slip or caught down the leg-side." Click here to listen to Michael Atherton and Andrew Strauss discuss the day's events in our all-new Ashes podcast and here for Sir Ian Botham's take on England's batting collapse.

Making friends

England may have lost all their wickets in a hurry on Friday but Pietersen at least showed his sense of humour remained intact during his interactions with Australia's fans. The Surrey batsman, making his 100th Test appearance, was blowing kisses to his new friends in the crowd and was even willing to try sign a few autographs.

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