Australia seamer Mitchell Johnson paid tribute to bowling coach Troy Cooley for helping him rediscover his best form and turn the third Ashes Test on its head in Perth.

Johnson, recalled to the side after missing the defeat to England in Adelaide, produced a wonderful display of left-arm swing bowling to take figures of six for 38, including four wickets for seven runs, to help skittle the tourists for 187.

The hosts capitalised on that inspired spell to reach the close on 119 for three, with Shane Watson unbeaten on 61, and a lead of 200.

The decision to rest the 29-year-old for the second Test, allowing him to work with former England bowling coach Cooley and fitness coach Stuart Karppinen, paid off in spectacular fashion at the WACA.

He said: "I have been working on getting my momentum forward and hopefully getting the ball to swing, and it did today.

"I have been working hard with Troy Cooley and Stuart Karppinen, our fitness trainer, and they have done an exceptional job with me.

"One thing that is key for me is getting my momentum going forward to the crease, in Brisbane I was getting off the wicket very quickly and my momentum was heading off towards square leg.

"I was disappointed (to miss out in Adelaide), you don't want to miss a Test for your country but it has worked in my favour. I got to work on a few things and get the confidence back, and coming here I worked really well with the other bowlers who did an exceptional job."

Johnson appeared particularly fired up during his vital spell, and his dismissal of Jonathan Trott saw him appear to gesture towards the press box.

But he denied that he had been looking to pick out anyone in particular.

"I was a bit emotional at the time," he said. "There have been a few things said around the traps and I let the emotions get out, but in the end I got six wickets and that was the main thing, to do a job for Australia.

"I was disappointed not to help out in Brisbane and to do it here, I am very excited."