England media, legends slam 'dreadful' batsmen for 'eating humble pie' at Johnson's hands in Gabba

The English media and former cricketers have slammed the 'dreadful' England cricketers for being forced to 'eat humble pie' by Australian paceman Mitchell Johnson on the second day of the first Ashes Test at the Gabba.

For long, Johnson had been the victim of the Barmy Army's chants of: He bowls to the left, he bowls to the right, Mitchell Johnson, his bowling is shite', but those days could be numbered.

According to News.com.au, the Daily Mail surmised that 'Johnson was fast and hostile in tearing the heart out of England's middle order', while the Telegraph admitted that although Johnson still bowls to 'the left, and to the right', but his bowling was 'top-flight'.

The Independent further hailed Johnson with 'Johnson, who had talked the talk before the series, walked the walk in a thrilling exhibition of irresistible, hostile, potent and rapid bowling', while England legend Geoffrey Boycott described his countrymen's work with the bat as 'dreadful'.

The Daily Mail slammed England's batting as 'terrible' and called it the 'worst display with the bat since New Zealand skittled them for 167, while former skipper Nasser Hussain credited the day's event to 'a combination of hostile bowling, good control from the off-spin of Nathan Lyon, smart captaincy from Michael Clarke, and a couple of very soft dismissals'.

However, the Mirror still retained a quiet sense of optimism, saying that 'the only shock about England's collapse was that it was a surprise... they're used to dog's dinners for first Tests on tour'.