Pom pom war as more cheergirls axed

Canberra Raiders Cheerleaders - The Raiderettes. Source: Supplied

A DAY after Canterbury demoted their cheerleaders, the Canberra Raiders are poised to sack their cheer squad altogether.

In an historic move, Raiders chief executive Don Furner told The Daily Telegraph that his club was "reviewing the club's game-day entertainment.''

"We have always had them but research among our fans indicates it might be time for a change,'' Furner said. "It's not definite but we are reviewing our game day entertainment.''

Furner denied the move was based around any female exploitation.

"There are a couple of reasons,'' he said. "One, it is quite cold and a big ask for the woman, particularly during night games. And, two, cost. This decision has nothing to do with the Bulldogs.''

Canberra's stance comes as Canterbury's cheerleaders had a simple message for Bulldogs management: Just let us dance.

Support for The Belles was growing yesterday after the club abandoned their pre-game and half-time routines to focus on off-field work as Bulldogs ambassadors.

Bulldogs cheerleaders at ANZ Stadium. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Limited

An online petition calling for the cheerleaders' reinstatement to the sidelines has attracted nearly 550 signatures over the past three days.

The cheerleaders were reluctant to talk with The Daily Telegraph yesterday for fears of being chastised by Canterbury management.

One did say though: "We are happy to do what the club wants and even change our uniforms. "But all we want to do is dance on the sidelines before the match and at half-time.''

Petition founder Rachel Lawson, who was in contact with the women throughout yesterday, had a message for Canterbury CEO Raelene Castle.

Canterbury cheerleader Caterina. Source: Supplied

"They are professional dancers who practice six days a week - they just want to dance on the sidelines,'' Lawson said.

"They have been part of the club since day one. On game day they arrive at the ground a couple of hours early to practice. They are there before the players.

"This is a family club and lot of them have been here for six, seven, eight years. It just wouldn't be a home game without them.

"They're not just cheerleaders. They are great with kids, have photos taken, sign autographs and do charity work with Camp Quality and the Children's Hospital.''

Canterbury's cheerleaders will now be managed internally in an "ambassadorial role.'' They will have new contemporary outfits, which are yet to be made.

The online Twitter petition, called Save The Belles, stated: "We ask that you reconsider your decision and welcome our Belles back to the sidelines in 2014.

"Please restore our pride. Embrace our excellence. Save our tradition. All Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs players, staff, cheerleaders and fans are one family.''

A Bulldogs cheerleader at ANZ Stadium. Picture: Brett Costello Source: News Limited

Castle and Lawson are due to meet today to discuss the drama. Reaction online was mixed.

One blogger wrote: "Put a woman in charge (Castle) and there is almost always change for the better.''

Another disagreed, saying: "Great to see Castle hitting the big issues.''

Other clubs contacted by The Daily Telegraph had no plans to end cheerleading.

"We had auditions on the weekend,'' said Sharks CEO Steve Noyce.

Wests Tigers CEO Grant Mayer added: "We believe our cheer squad should have a greater role on game day including on-field entertainment, corporate engagement and fan engagement.''

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Eugene's 'Roos hopes rest on Reds

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ADELAIDE United gloveman Eugene Galekovic believes his Reds defence may have a huge say in whether he'll be at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

The Reds skipper was in e- boss Pim Verbeek's 2010 Socceroos World Cup 23-man squad in South Africa and won accolades from former Australia coach Holger Osieck before the German was fired in October.

MORE: VERBAL SPRAYS AT HEATED ADELAIDE UNITED TRAINING

But Galekovic sitting behind the A-League's leakiest defence (17 goals in nine matches) has caused the two-time goalkeeper of the year concern.

Galekovic's World Cup chances may also take another potential hit if Adelaide bows out of the finals race to make its home-and-away season end on April 11, 64 days before the Socceroos face Chile in its first Group B clash in Cuiaba on June 13.

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"It's going to help (my Socceroos chances) if we make the finals and do well in the finals, " Galekovic said.

Eugene Galekovic's Socceroos hopes will be affected by Adelaide United's defence.

"But we're not going so well so we're going to have to change those results."

"I think the longer you play (the A-League season) those extra games are important."

But his immediate Socceroos World Cup squad competition - Matt Ryan, 21, (Club Brugge, Belgium) and Mitch Langerak, 25, (Borussia Dortmund, Germany) have had an easier life guarding goal for their clubs.

Ryan has copped 14 goals in 18 league matches for his second-placed Belgian club but Langerak has only started one Bundesliga match for the 2013 UEFA Champions League runner up.

The pair were named in new boss Ange Postecoglou's debut squad in a 1-0 win over Costa Rica last month where Ryan featured for the entire clash in Sydney.

Galekovic, 32, said he hasn't yet spoken to Postecoglou since the former Melbourne Victory coach won the Socceroos gig.

But Galekovic was hoping to be part of Postecoglou's plans in a Socceroos friendly in March where the Australians are expected to face South American opposition in Europe.

"I'm not sure (where I stand) I haven't really talked to the coach about that,'' Galekovic said.

"Obviously the next game is in March it's a long time away so the boys are going to have to wait to see who gets picked for that.

"But I think most boys will be doing the same thing play football and trying to play good football and give themselves a chance to play the friendly in March."

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Mini's perfect Christmas present

Anthony Minichiello celebrates grand final victory. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

VETERAN fullback Anthony Minichiello's new one-year deal with the Sydney Roosters should be completed within days.

It will be a welcome Christmas gift for the Roosters legend.

Salary cap debate and Minichiello's World Cup campaign with Italy delayed the process longer than both parties had wanted.

Minichiello will likely retire after the 2014 season, where his Roosters will attempt to win successive NRL premierships.

There will be times during next season when winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck plays fullback, with Minichiello onto the wing.

Minichiello will still retain the captaincy. He could become the first winger to captain an NRL side since Warren Boland with Western Suburbs back in 1980.

Anthony Minichiello celebrates grand final victory. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Limited

Tuivasa-Sheck is recovering from a broken leg sustained in the World Cup when representing New Zealand.

Minichiello, 33, has played 275 games over 14 seasons at Bondi. An injury-free season could see him pass the 300-game milestone.

Asked recently if he was concerned about the delay in contract negotiations, Minichiello said: "I'm cool with it. I have a great relationship with the Roosters and I know it's being worked out, but it has to go through the right avenues and processes.''

The Roosters will start to shift through captaincy candidates for 2015. The early contenders are Mitchell Pearce, Boyd Cordner and Jake Friend.

Friend has impressed senior Roosters officials in the past two years.

Minichiello's wife, Terry Biviano, gave birth to their first baby, a healthy baby girl, earlier this month.

Mitchell Pearce and Anthony Minichiello celebrate grand final victory. Source: News Limited

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England ruined by giants' failure

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ENGLAND'S plans to take down Australia with giant fast bowlers lie in ruins.

Chris Tremlett, Steven Finn and Boyd Rankin were all included to attack Australia, and particularly captain Michael Clarke, with short bowling on hard Australian pitches.

However, at most only one of the trio is likely to play in Perth on one of the most fast bowler friendly pitches in the world, where Australia has an outstanding record and is strongly favoured to regain the Ashes.

England felt that the best way to unsettle Clarke was with short bowling and that worked on the opening day of the series in Brisbane when he fended a Stuart Broad bouncer to short leg for just one.

But Clarke has since smashed two centuries as Australia has crushed England in both Tests with Mitchell Johnson the thunderbolt who has destroyed the tourists.

Chris Tremlett prepares to bowl at the Gabba. Source: Getty Images

Tremlett played in the first Test at the Gabba and claimed four wickets for the match but his bowling was generally modest and lacked venom.

He looked a very different bowler to the one who was included for the Perth Test three years ago and claimed eight wickets.

There were times in Brisbane when Tremlett's pace dropped below 130kph, a worrying marker that England's backroom strategists know only too well.

Their detailed research has found that a fast bowler's ability take wickets at Test level reduces once their pace falls below 135kph and plunges below 130kph.

Contrast that with Australia, where Johnson is bowling around 150kph and Ryan Harris 140kph.

Tremlett is now 32 and has played just 12 Tests in a career marred by injury. Brisbane was his first Test in almost two years.

England's struggling paceman Steven Finn. Source: AFP

Most worrying for England is the continuing struggles of Finn, their fastest bowler.

Aged just 24 he has already taken 90 wickets at 29 with a strike rate of just 48 balls per wicket, which is better than any of the modern day greats.

However, he concedes almost four runs an over and currently his rhythm and run-up are a mess.

His bowling in tour matches since England arrived in late October has been dreadful, with his length too consistently short.

Rankin, 29, is raw at international level given he has spent most of his career playing for Ireland and has also bowled too short in tour matches.

While Australia has named an unchanged squad for a third successive Test England have a multitude of concerns.

Playing two spinners in Adelaide was a bold move which may have paid dividends if England had not dropped vital catches on the opening day.

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But there is every chance that neither Graeme Swann nor Monty Panesar will play in Perth given the poor record spinners have at the ground.

Tim Bresnan, who has recovered from a back injury, appears a logical inclusion to bowl into the prevailing Fremantle Doctor.

Then comes the hard decisions. All-rounder Ben Stokes, 22, appears to have the makings of a solid cricketer and bowled with good pace but does not look a number six batsman.

Does he in stay in the side as one of four fast bowlers alongside Jimmy Anderson, Broad and Tremlett while Gary Ballance comes in at six to make his debut?

England have more questions than answers.

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Siddle's got a bunny in KP

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PETER Siddle has become Kevin Pietersen's great tormentor.

The banana-munching fast bowler on Sunday completed a match sweep against England's key batsman, removing Pietersen for the ninth time in his career.

A day after Siddle and the Aussies suckered Pietersen into flicking a straight ball into a waiting leg-side trap, the big-hearted Victorian removed the dangerous No. 4 and reignited Australia's inevitable march to a 2-0 series lead.

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The right-armer found just enough rare movement on a dry Adelaide Oval wicket, nipping the ball back off the seam, catching a faint inside edge and an even fainter nick on Pietersen's off bail.

It was a crucial breakthrough midway through the second session, after Pietersen and Joe Root had defied a pair of early Australian breakthroughs to combine for a 111-run stand.

Of the 167 times Pietersen has fallen in Test cricket, no man has pulled the trigger more times than Siddle's nine.

Next best on Pietersen's nemesis list is Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan and retired Australian quick Brett Lee, who each claimed the 101-Test enigma six times.

"I don't know, I guess I just love the challenge of bowling against a player of his experience and talent I guess," Siddle said of his hold over Pietersen.

Peter Siddle is congratulated by teammates after dismissing Kevin Pietersen. AP Photo/James Elsby Source: AP

"He's been a star player of Test cricket and I just enjoy it. I try to keep it patient, bowl in the right areas and I've just been lucky - a few chop-ons always helps, so there's a bit of luck there as well.

"But it was nice to get him early today."

The Siddle-Pietersen pairing is still well short of the record 19 dismissals former England captain Mike Atherton suffered against Glenn McGrath.

Atherton holds three of the top four spots in cricket's "bunny" list, having also fallen to West Indies pair Curtley Ambrose and Courtney Walsh 17 times each.

Siddle dislodged Pietersen three times during the winter Ashes in England, but failed to add to the pile in the opening Test of the summer in Brisbane.

In a twist, the only bigger bunny in the current Ashes battle is Siddle himself - the paceman has given Jimmy Anderson a personal-best 11 scalps in his 334-wicket career.

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England No. 5 Ian Bell has been a lone hand withstanding Mitchell Johnson's searing heat this summer after once being a soft touch for Adelaide's day-three destroyer. But emerging as a bogey in Johnson's place is unlikely game-changer Steve Smith.

Part-time leg-spinner Smith, with just nine Test wickets to his name, claimed Bell for the third time in his career on Sunday.

It was a soft dismissal, Bell mis-timing a full toss to a diving Johnson at mid-on. Two of Smith's three personal victories against Bell have come thanks to full tosses.

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Aussies made to wait one more day

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ANOTHER Ashes Test has turned nasty as Australia pushes relentlessly towards a second overwhelming victory on Monday.

Physical contact between rampaging Mitchell Johnson and debutant Ben Stokes sparked a war of words which later engulfed the second Test at Adelaide Oval.

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For the second time in as many Tests Michael Clarke walked up from second slip to have words, this time with England wicket-keeper Matthew Prior as he struggled to save his country and his career.

The umpires had to step in between Johnson and Stokes after they bumped shoulders while the all-rounder was taking a run, with the son of a former New Zealand rugby international clearly intent on giving as good as he got.

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Stokes (28) received an almighty send-off from Ryan Harris in particular when the 22-year-old was dismissed late in the day.

And the final over descended into a full scale sledging war with players around Prior, including Clarke, aiming up at him.

Non-striker Stuart Broad marched towards Johnson at the top of his mark as they renewed hostilities.

Then Broad, who looks particularly uncomfortable facing Johnson, went out of his way to walk off the ground with Johnson as they continued an animated exchange.

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Prior and his counterpart Brad Haddin also came together for a conversation as they left the ground.

Broad is unbeaten on 22 and Prior 31 with England 6-247, still 283 behind.

Victory will leave Australia 2-0 up in the series and heading to Perth, where the heavy weight of history suggests the Ashes will be regained.

But once again the focus has shifted to the animosity between the sides, with England's highest scorer, Joe Root (87) playing down the confrontations.

"I didn't think there was anything going on out there," Root, 22, said later.

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"You want to play hard cricket and with Ashes cricket you would expect that. You'd be disappointed if there wasn't a bit of rivalry and what have you.

"I think it makes entertaining cricket to watch and it's certainly good to be out there in the middle, you know you've got a battle. You've got to front up and fight for your country."

Australia's most successful bowler, Peter Siddle, attempted to make light of the angst.

"'Pup' (Clarke) walked in to have a look at the light and Broady was asking Mitch where to go to dinner tonight," said Peter Siddle.

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"There wasn't a lot to it. It's no more than we've ever seen in the history of cricket.

"You can say what you want but being out there, there is not much being said at all. It's been a long day, and it's been a tough day, and Mitchell is just trying to get the job done."

Monday shapes as another thumping after the emphatic 381-run win at the Gabba a fortnight ago but the Australians will be circumspect following last year's Test in Adelaide, when South Africa lost just four wickets on the last day to draw.

With the history lesson of last season, the benign state of the drop-in pitch and the possibility of rain around, Clarke made a strong declaration at the start of play to push for victory.

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Sydney racing on wrong track

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IT is a shocker that in a period of fine sunny weather a Randwick meeting featuring one of Australia's great mile races, the Villiers, has to be transferred to an inside track, but it is better the decision was made on Saturday night and not at the last minute next Friday.

I think Rosehill would have been a far better alternative than the Kensington track, with its limited field sizes, but Rosehill has been let out for Christmas functions next weekend and we cannot quibble about that, with the money made from these functions on non race days going straight back into racing.

I hope people in racing don't think the Kensington track because it is racing so well is the answer to all our prayers. It might look OK on television, but the Kensington track is an inside track, the horses are too far from the paying public and it is an alternative circuit or lesser meeting track and nothing more.

We are stuck with next Saturday so let us get on with it, but let us also make sure a major meeting does not have to be transferred off the course proper in such circumstances again.

***

MAJOR thoroughbed auction house, Inglis, won't be expecting BC3 Thoroughbreds who have paid $2.6 million for a filly and $5 for a colt out of Black Caviar's dam Helsinge in the last couple of years, to bid on this year's full sister to the champ, by Bel Esprit.

It seems the $5 million account for last year's colt has not been settled.

The spokesmen for BC3 have been Melbourne identity Bill Vlahos and former jockey Simon Marshall. Vlahos has been in the news in the NSW Supreme Court this week in a case centring around a punters club of which he is the principal.

Vlahos claimed $194 million was in an account in the Westpac bank, but the bank has no knowledge of such an account. Vlahos said in court on Friday that a former business partner, who is now in Dubai, was responsible for the banking.

***

I THINK stewards have been too hard on Serg Lisnyy in standing him down for a month. I know Lisnyy's old mount Calming Influence won easily on Saturday with Hugh Bowman up, but what Lisnyy needed was some expert guidance not a confidence sapping suspension.

The kid rides well and is one of our best apprentices. A couple of hours with Ron Quinton or Malcolm Johnston was all that he needed.

Compare Lisnyy's penalty with the lenience handed out to Hugh Bowman at Gosford on Thursday when the leading rider was told by stewards "in future he would be expected to ride more competitively".

I would assume Bowman and all jockeys should know they should ride competitively. At Gosford Bowman was leading on an odds on favourite in a field of four and he allowed a rival up on his inside and to the howls of punters that horse went on to beat him.

Bowman gets let off, Lisnyy gets rubbed out. Come on.

Bart Cummings: Picture: Colleen Petch Source: News Limited

***

I UNDERSTAND Bart and James Cummings were having lunch together yesterday and I hope some things were resolved. One thing I am certain of is young James will make his mark on racing. He is a fine young man, a credit to his parents, and he has talent to burn.

***

AFTER his fourth winner at Randwick on Saturday Peter Snowden told me he expected to hear his alarm go off and he would wake up.

Pete is certainly having a great run and Darley will miss him when he hands over the reins to John O'Shea after the Autumn carnival. All four winners on Saturday went great and I particularly liked the performance of Viscount's young brother Sinjoren, who is getting better every time he strips for action.

As good as the stable is going, the No 1 jockey Kerrin McEvoy is also on fire riding with a new found aggression.

RIDE OF THE DAY

Kerrin McEvoy on Solemn. Made use of him to get a good position and then rode with plenty of poise and patience.

RUN OF THE DAY

Messene. Toyed with his rivals. Has now won six from nine and knows where the post is.

FORGET IT RAN

Occitan lost all momentum when held in a pocket in the juvenile race and the effort can be forgiven.

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UFC a bloody disgrace

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SINCE when is kicking, elbowing, kneeing, punching and stomping an opponent classified as sport?

On Saturday night on Fuel TV I witnessed the brutality and bloodshed of the UFC - apparently, and worryingly, the world's fastest growing sport.

This was nothing but barbaric savagery that should be banned in this country.

The fact women were allowed to fight on the card was an even bigger disgrace.

The main event was between Aussie Mark Hunt and Brazilian Antonio "Bigfoot'' Silva.

The commentators described it as one of the greatest fights in UFC history.

It made me feel sick.

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Hunt started with blond hair that finished a blood-soaked red. Both fighters became barely recognisable from the blood and facial wounds of five sadistic rounds.

It scared me that the Brisbane Entertainment Centre was sold out with so many thousands of people (including families with young children) who were prepared to pay to watch it.

And all those who lapped it up and loved every cruel moment on pay-TV.

Almost defenceless men being held down on the ground and punched senseless.

What does it say about our society?

Mark Hunt lands and elbow on Antonio Silva. Source: News Limited

Why do we allow our kids to watch and cheer for something we teach them not to do?

And why are the competitors allowed to do all this inside a cage when it's illegal on the streets?

People have been sent to jail for less than what happened inside a cage on Saturday night.

If you really want to make yourself sick, Google "UFC worst injuries". The images are seriously disgusting and raise the question: why aren't the fighters at least made to wear headgear?

Why aren't fighters getting protection from blood diseases?

Why do the referees and doctors allow mismatches and lopsided fights to continue?

I know the UFC has statistics to prove there are no more serious injuries than in boxing, but that's not the point.

The beauty of all sport is the toughness and determination of its competitors. The pain they put themselves through to become the best.

The injury risks they face in rugby league and all the footy codes. At least their sport involves a large degree of skill - and it's not just a contest to ­violently bash another person into submission.

HYBRID TALKS

NRL chief Dave Smith refuses to rule out the Kangaroos' ­involvement in a hybrid game against the Wallabies.

Promoters are believed to have offered Smith $7.5 million earlier this year to play against the Wallabies.

He met with his ARU counterpart, Bill Pulver, and there was talk about Anzac Day this year at ANZ Stadium.

With Smith unwilling to commit, the promoters approached the English rugby league and got an agreement in principal.

Smith told me over the weekend it was something he may consider down the track.

"I've had a few people come and talk to me about hybrid games," Smith said.

"It's been a question of priorities for me. We've had so much to do this year with pathways, membership programs and all the integrity issues.

"Who knows, in the future it might be something interesting. I'm happy to talk to anybody who's got a good idea. It just wasn't a priority this year."

Under the hybrid game rules, it's a 13-a-side contest. The attacking team plays the ball in its own half and has a maul in the opposition half.

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Johnson evokes memories of Lillee

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NOTHING generates electricity in cricket like a frightening fast bowler.

The roar of another near capacity crowd at Adelaide Oval on Saturday as Mitchell Johnson demolished England again revived the halcyon days of the 1970s.

With that brooding moustache Johnson could have been a mirror imagine of Dennis Lillee with the crescendo of 35,000 fans propelling Australia's latest hero of destruction to the wicket.

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This was raw and brutal stuff as batsmen dodged and weaved, sometimes more concerned about the preservation of their personal safety than their wicket.

In a few overs of mayhem shortly after lunch on the third day Johnson had the crowd roaring like they did when Lillee was steaming in three or four decades ago.

Stumps were scattered and flattened, catches flew into the cordon and twice Johnson was on a hat-trick as he completely dismembered the hapless tourists.

From the beginning of his 14th over to the last ball of his 16th Johnson claimed 5-12 in 18 balls. It was breath-taking stuff.

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He returned to bowl last man Monty Panesar after an annoying partnership, finishing with the remarkable figures of 7-40 and walking off to a standing ovation.

Johnson's dismissal of Matt Prior as part of that ruthless demolition was a metaphor for the sudden and stark reversal of form and fortune on both sides.

After breaking down with a serious foot injury in South Africa two years ago it appeared that was the end of Johnson's Test career. Even he was looking for a way out of the side his form was so poor.

Mitchell Johnson acknowledges applause from the spectators. AFP PHOTO / Saeed KHAN Source: AFP

And as a wicket-keeper batsman Prior, now vice-captain, has been a central figure in the rise of England cricket, which made it all the way to number one before being deposed by South Africa, and winning the last three Ashes series.

Now Johnson is key to Australia's rampaging charge towards regaining the Ashes and Prior's game is a mess, leaving England with a long and often helpless tail.

Prior lasted just four balls on Saturday, all from Johnson, as England's resolve evaporated. The first delivery was straightforward and Prior tucked it to mid-wicket for no run.

But the second was a nasty short ball that hit him in the chest playing an ugly fend and the third was another shot ball which Prior was forced to hastily evade.

With the crowd now baying for blood in this spectacular, new, if as yet unfinished colosseum, Prior pushed feebly at a full ball sliding across him to be caught behind by Brad Haddin.

It was Prior's second duck in his first three innings of the series. He has managed to face a total of 13 balls for just four runs, a single scoring shot during the first Test in Brisbane as England were flogged by 381 runs at the Gabba.

By contrast his Australian counterpart Brad Haddin is leading the series averages (88) and aggregate (265).

He followed 94 and 53 in Brisbane with a century in Adelaide but like many of the well performed Australians, has been pushed into sideshow alley by a rampant Johnson.

There is nothing like a terrifying fast bowler.

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Super Mitch twists the knife

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ENGLAND'S batsmen have been condemned as "petrified" after a terrifying Mitchell Johnson continued Australia's charge towards regaining the Ashes.

Former Ashes-winning captain Michael Vaughan was merciless when Johnson rippled the heart out of England on the third day of the second Test in Adelaide, claiming a remarkable 7-40.

"Say what you want ... It's hard and fast... But England look absolutely petrified of Johnson," tweeted Vaughan as his former side collapsed for 172 to trail by a staggering 398 on the first innings.

Claiming he had never bowled better, Johnson revealed Australia would continue to "cook" England by sending them back into the field on Sunday, resuming on 3-132, an overall lead of 530. David Warner is unbeaten on 83.

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The Ashes could be reclaimed at Perth's WACA Ground in little more than a week, a venue where the stars regularly align for Johnson on the fast bowler friendly pitch.

One of the few England players to cope with Johnson's unnerving pace with an unbeaten 72, Ian Bell admitted many of his team mates were struggling against the rampant left armer.

Bell claimed he was not "scared" of Johnson, adding "but I can't speak for everyone."

"Obviously we're going to have to find an answer because he's blowing us away in the middle and lower order so we need to make sure that we can somehow get through his spells," said Bell.

"When you're playing pace you have to have some serious courage don't you. Every batsman has said that.

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"We've got to get out there and battle hard. You know there are going to be a few past your nose.

"I don't think we should have been surprised by this. He (Johnson) has just gone into the top 10 wicket-takers of all time (for Australia) so he's a quality performer.

"He's bowled a lot more accurately this series than he has in the past but I'm not surprised he's bowled well. I've always respected him as a good bowler.

"When someone is bowling at 150kph you've got to be switched on every ball."

Johnson claimed three wickets in his 14th over and was on a hattrick twice as he sliced through the England middle and lower order with a spell of 6-16 from 26 balls.

"When Mitchell Johnson is bowling at his best, if you get a couple of good ones first up, like Cookie (captain Alastair Cook) got a fantastic delivery (late on Friday), if you get one of those in your first 10 balls it's good enough for anyone in the world," said Bell.

"Obviously it's another disappointing performance. You can't afford in Test matches, certainly the first innings, to get bowled out under 200 or you're not going to win anything.

"There are no excuses, it's just not good enough. We need to make sure we put that right. We'll have an opportunity in the second innings to at least try and show some fight."

Johnson's demolition of England follows a nine-wicket, man of the match performance during the first Test in Brisbane, when England was also dismissed for well under 200 in both innings to lose by a thumping 381 runs.

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