CRICKET ASHES TOUR:MITCHELL JOHNSON, Australia's fast-bowling enigma, is to specifically target Andrew Strauss and Kevin Pietersen when the Ashes series sparks into life at The Gabba on Thursday (11pm Wednesday Irish time).
“England really look up to their captain Andrew Strauss, and he is someone we need to target,” Johnson said. “If we can get him to crumble then their players start thinking the same thing and thinking negatively, and so that is someone we will definitely be going after.
“For me personally, being an aggressive bowler, we had a look at a bit of footage of him this morning under the short ball. He can play one that is about chest height, but if you get it right on the money, he really does struggle a bit. You have got to get your bouncer high to him. Just be an aggressive bowler at him.”
As for Pietersen, Johnson said: “He’s a very fiery player – it’s his nature. We’ve got a bit of history and that will probably continue through this series. Sometimes he wants you to go hard at him and give him a little bit. I think that’s what he feeds off.”
Pietersen has also been under analysis from another quarter – Shane Warne, whose accusations that his former Hampshire team-mate is an “outcast” in the England dressing-room were impatiently waved aside yesterday by Andy Flower. The England coach uttered his umpteenth supportive pronouncement on Pietersen’s behalf, saying: “He’s anything but an outcast. He’s a good guy to have in the dressing-room, a great player to have on your side, a very dangerous player that the opposition worry about.
“We expect great things from him and that he takes part in team dynamics like everyone else. We do have very good team unity and that is one of our strengths.
“Kevin does like the big stage and that’s one of the great things about him. He enjoys the chance to bat brilliantly while everyone’s watching. It’s part of what makes up a very fine competitor.”
Pietersen has only made one Test hundred since he was sacked from the captaincy almost two years ago after issuing an ultimatum that he could not work alongside the then coach, Peter Moores.
Warne, whose retirement has coincided with Australia’s slip down the Test rankings, had said: “KP’s lean trot has a lot to do with the way he has been treated. He was forced out as captain and sacked from the one-day side earlier this year. The way they have treated him is ordinary and he has been made to feel as if he is a bit of an outcast. KP might be the walking ego but he has to be made to feel important, like he is the man.”
As for Johnson’s plan to target Pietersen and Strauss, the Australian bowled 11 wides during a desperate search for form in a club match in Perth less than a fortnight ago, leaving members of the England camp to no doubt joke that he would be better off just aiming for the cut bit.
He can be two different cricketers in a matter of seconds, an assertive, highly dangerous leader of an attack one moment, a most insecure of talents the next.
But if it all goes awry again, as it did occasionally during the 2009 Ashes series in England, Johnson says he is relying on some new tattoos to bring him luck.
Certainly no Australian fast bowler has ever built up to an Ashes series by offering such an intimate description of his body art. “The tattoos signify a few things,” he said. “[There’s] a Japanese-style koi, some cherry blossoms that have a meaning of luck. I had three sittings. The last bit was only two weeks after I had the previous bit done. That hurt, because I was still a bit tender. It wasn’t as bad as the side. That killed me. I don’t know if it has brought me good luck, I hope so.”
Johnson’s Ashes series in England last time round was characterised by psychological anguish as his form lurched from dangerous to bewildered, but England know that he could swing the first Test towards Australia if he is at his most inspired on the ground where the home side have not lost for 22 years.
“Sometimes there is too big a difference between my best and worst,” Johnson said.
“But now I am mentally stronger. I am taking responsibility as a leader. That has helped my focus. I am probably my worst critic. I am always trying to bowl a perfect ball.”
GuardianService
