MITCHELL JOHNSON lost his swing somewhere between Melbourne and Perth last summer, but playing his 10th Test in Bangalore yesterday, Australia's young left-armer showed he had found other ways to get batsmen out. And not just any batsmen.

By lunch Johnson had pocketed the precious wickets of Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar and V.V.S. Laxman, targeting cracks in the pitch, using a clever change of pace and a touch of reverse swing to collect 3-19 in the 8.5 overs.

It was an emphatic response to the recent tribulations of a bowler who has had to grow up quickly and, unlike other members of Australia's fast-bowling fraternity, had to iron out his kinks in the harsh light of international cricket.

The ball that got Sehwag was delivered from around the wicket and exposed the opener's lack of footwork, ballooning off the edge and into the hands of Matthew Hayden at slip.

Johnson's biggest triumph, though, was to fool the great Tendulkar by rolling his fingers across a slower ball, which was batted up to Cameron White at cover, sending the Australians into a celebratory frenzy.

Then the elegant Laxman, yet to get his feet working, edged a good-length ball through to Brad Haddin for a duck.

In fact, Dravid was the only one of India's "big four" who defied him.

It was a spectacular coming of age, and precisely what Australia needed to set India on the back foot.