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Johnson's off-cutter magic exposes India

A ripping delivery with turn more associated with a spinner broke open the tourists' batting on the fifth afternoon

Mitchell Johnson produced one of the balls of this Commonwealth Bank Test series late on the final day of the Boxing Day Test.

The left-armer clean-bowled Cheteshwar Pujara with a brilliant off-cutter that turned past the Indian's bat and hit the top of off-stump.

According to Channel Nine's ball-tracking technology, the delivery deviated 37cm after pitching.

Bowling wide on the crease from around the wicket, Johnson pitched the delivery on off-stump and Pujara, not surprisingly, played as if he expected the ball to continue on its path towards middle and leg stumps.

But the deviation off the day five surface saw the ball beat his forward push and hit the off stump.

Just as impressive as the wicket ball was the way Johnson set Pujara up with the previous deliveries (see video below).

Two balls before the dismissal, the Aussie quick struck the batsman on the peak of his helmet with a ball that bounced up from a reasonably good length.

Johnson, captain Steve Smith and Ajinkya Rahane both came forward to check on the batsman, who removed his helmet before deciding he was fit to continue.

Johnson then fired in a bouncer, which was allowed to sail through to the keeper, before claiming the wicket off the final ball of the over.

Image Id: ~/media/ED2361152E994DEBA299B2697AAFDFEA

Johnson celebrates the wicket of Pujara // Getty Images