ASHES PHOTOS: Australia take firm grip on Gabba Test

Australia dismissed England for 136 and took a first innings lead of 159 on Day 2 of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba on Friday.

The home side shattered the tourists' batting with six wickets for nine runs in a stunning mid-afternoon spell.

- Scorecard

Mitchell Johnson's speed and bounce troubled England. He led the way with four wickets for 61, as Australia, bowled out for 295 in the first hour of the day, transformed the match after a disappointing opening day at the Gabba.

-Scorecard

-Australia's villain No 1: Stuart Broad

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Earlier, England lost captain Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott in the half an hour before lunch, reaching the break at 55 for 2. But despite their losses, they looked to be making steady progress towards a reasonable score at 82-2 midway through the second session.

Kevin Pietersen, playing his 100th Test, had scored 18 before he swatted the ball off his pads to George Bailey, who, at mid-wicket, took a great catch to give Ryan Harris his second wicket.

With England's most dangerous batsmen gone, Johnson and his fellow-bowlers ran rampant to leave the tourists facing an uphill task just to save the Test, let alone secure a first victory in Brisbane since 1986.

Pacer Stuart Broad will claim most of the plaudits back in England after he added Harris to his five victims on the opening day to finish with figures of six for 81.