Johnson bolts into Test contention

Mitchell Johnson celebrates his fourth wicket. Picture: Nikki Davis-jones Source: Herald Sun

A FIRED-UP Mitchell Johnson has shown he can still shake up a batting order with a blistering spell for Western Australia in the Sheffield match against Tasmania at Bellerive.

The former Test spearhead floored Tigers keeper Tim Paine with a vicious bouncer and hit several others in picking up four scalps on day two with a menacing display of speed.

The spell could see Johnson return to the Test frame ahead of the final duel against South Africa in Perth, with Victorian quick James Pattinson set to miss with a side strain.

Tasmania reached 9-398 at tea in their first innings, a massive lead of 331.

Ben Dunk fell three runs short of his maiden Shield hundred to top score, while skipper George Bailey made 66.

But with a Test spot in the offing after James Pattinson was ruled out for the summer, Johnson answered Tigers paceman Jackson Bird's 6-25 with firepower - and, for the most part, control - to have figures of 4-103.

The 31-year-old had Bailey caught at deep fine leg at 4-275 before Paine (4) and Luke Butterworth (2) were out to slips catches from superb deliveries to leave the Tigers 6-295.

Paine hadn't looked comfortable after he'd been hit flush on the side of the head, requiring a new helmet and copping a verballing from Johnson.

A short ball at Xavier Doherty's throat had the spinner fending a catch to short leg and on his way for two at 9-355.

A prolonged verbal battle between Johnson and James Faulkner then followed as the Tigers allrounder made 55 not out in a brave cameo.

Johnson may be behind fellow left-armer Mitchell Starc in the Test pecking order but the prospect of his menace on his bouncy Perth home deck could make selectors pause for thought.

Earlier, Tigers opener Dunk fell agonisingly short of a ton when he was caught behind for 97, surpassing his previous best of 45.

WA will have a mountain to climb if they're to avoid an innings defeat after they made just 67 in their first dig.

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