Mitchell Johnson aims to reopen ‘scars’ with England on the ropes

Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson said he hoped England would be feeling the effect of “scars” from the last Ashes series following a hostile burst during the second test at Lord’s on Friday.

Johnson took two wickets for one run in seven balls to get rid of Gary Ballance and Joe Root as Australia ripped through England’s top order after tea on the second day.

By stumps, England captain Alastair Cook (21 not out) and Ben Stokes (38 not out) had taken their side from 30 for four to 85 for four.

That still left England a mammoth 481 runs adrift of Australia’s first innings 566 for eight declared, which featured Steven Smith’s 215 and another personal test-best score in opener Chris Rogers’s 173.

Johnson took 37 wickets at under 14 apiece as Australia whitewashed England 5-0 on home soil during the last Ashes campaign in 2013-14.

He was far less effective when, on a typically low and slow Cardiff pitch, he returned match figures of two for 180 during England’s 169-run win in the first test last week.

But Johnson was a different proposition on a livelier surface at Lord’s.

Asked if he had re-opened old wounds, Johnson said: “I hope so. That’d be nice, to have those scars come back out.