Ashes 2015: Mitchell Johnson kills the laughter with short but explosive spells

The look on Ben Stokes' face in the nets told the story of the journey England faced. Others in their ranks walked out with equanimity into Saturday morning's sunshine to prepare for the batting challenge which lay ahead. Adam Lyth was not so chastened by his three-ball first-innings appearance to resist a grin and some words with the coach, Trevor Bayliss. Stokes just brooded. He hit balls for a time and then sat on a portable cricket net, alone with his thoughts, staring into space, jabbing the toe of a bat into the turf.