( CNN ) -- Piers Morgan likes to talk the talk but how did the CNN anchor fare when he had to walk the walk and face a cricket ball coming towards him at 150 kilometers an hour ? Morgan , who likes to tweet from the lip , has been one of England 's most outspoken critics over the past few weeks following the team 's embarrassing capitulation against Australia in the fiercely contested Ashes series . And from the cosy surroundings of his U.S. home , Morgan took to Twitter to criticize England 's wretched batting in the first three Ashes Tests -- matches in which Australia cruised to victory . But on Friday in Melbourne , where England are playing Australia in the fourth Test , Morgan got a taste of what the touring batsmen have had to contend with over the last few weeks , though none of them were dumped onto their backside -- unlike the CNN anchor . Facing former Australian fast bowler Brett Lee , a man who took 310 wickets in 76 Tests , Morgan was pummeled during a six-ball blast . With Lee not holding back , Morgan gave the appearance of a rabbit caught in the headlights as he backed away from nearly every delivery . Watch Morgan 's ordeal on YouTube . On four occasions the Englishman was hit on the body , while he was also clean bowled by Lee much to the amusement of the watching crowd of 2,000 , which included Australian cricketers Mitchell Johnson and Peter Siddle . `` He got hurt but he did n't get maimed , so that 's a positive step , '' Lee told the Sydney Morning Herald . `` You have to give full credit to the guy -- he 's going to be really sore tomorrow . `` But he kept on going , so you have to take your hat off to the guy . `` The biggest smile around the ground was from Mitchell Johnson I think . I looked over at Mitch and he gave me a wink , he was quite chuffed . '' If the 48-year-old Morgan was bloodied , he remained unbowed after his bruising experience . `` It 's made me reassess what you need out here on an Ashes tour and that is courage , fortitude and a Churchillian spirit of never giving in despite overwhelming odds , '' he said . CNN digital writer Chris Murphy plays amateur cricket with Morgan , so what was his analysis of his teammate 's performance ? `` Having played cricket with Piers on numerous occasions , it 's well known he has two shots : a forward defense and a heave to the leg side , '' said Murphy . `` Sadly , he was n't able to exhibit either . `` Charging down the wicket at someone bowling nearly 150 kph is n't brave , it 's just plain stupid . But Piers deserves full marks for the guts he showed in the face of a relentless barrage from Brett Lee . `` The sight of any batsman backing away from his stumps is a sign he 's troubled by the pace of the bowler , but in this case it was probably a wise idea to prevent his chin being shattered . `` A still head , straight bat and balance are the fundamentals of batting -- sadly for Piers , none of those elements were on show in Melbourne . Thankfully though , he is still alive to tell the tale . '' The England players who were the subject of Morgan 's Twitter angst did at least return to form Friday to take control of the fourth Test at the MCG . Their nemesis Johnson took five wickets to leave England 255 all out , but the visitors hit back to have the home side reeling on 167 for nine at stumps and facing the prospect of defeat after three earlier easy victories . In South Africa , fast bowler Dale Steyn put on a display that Lee at his best would be proud of , taking six wickets for 100 runs as India were all out for 334 in their first innings in Durban . Retiring legend Jacques Kallis became only the second man in Test history to take 200 catches during the course of the second day .
CNN anchor Piers Morgan went head to head with Australian bowler Brett Lee . Morgan left flat on his backside at Melbourne Cricket Ground . The 48-year-old anchor hit four times in six deliveries . England fight back in fourth Test to take control on second day .