Mitchell Johnson: Eoin Morgan dreaming over ‘no pressure on England’
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Version 0 of 1. Australia’s Mitchell Johnson has hit back at Eoin Morgan’s claim that England will not be under pressure in their opening World Cup match in Melbourne, saying the captain is “dreaming” if he thinks otherwise. Morgan, speaking after Johnson’s return of three for 27 powered Australia to a 112-run victory in the Tri-Series final in Perth, played down the 14 February meeting with the tournament co-hosts when he said: “I think the pressure builds on Australia. They’re the home side at a World Cup playing against a dangerous side. We’re going out all guns blazing. There’s no pressure from our point of view.” Those words left Johnson unimpressed. The fast bowler, whose efforts in his first game this year helped Australia to an eighth win in nine one-day internationals against England, said: “I think every team is under pressure, it is a World Cup. I think they are dreaming if they think they are not under pressure. Every team is going to be under pressure, you’ve got to win pretty much every game. That’s how I see it. “Our plan is to win every game. There will probably be a little more pressure on us being a home World Cup but we are prepared for that.” Asked if he felt he has a psychological hold over England, Johnson, who took 37 wickets to inspire Australia to a 5-0 Ashes whitewash in 2013-14, said: “It was a final – there is a lot of pressure in a final. It feels nice to do it to any team, to be honest. My job is to go out and try to bowl fast, be aggressive and take wickets. So I was pretty close to that. That’s what really excites me. Now we’ve won the final, we move on and focus on the World Cup. We’ve got them first game.” Johnson’s short ball is a potent weapon. He set up Moeen Ali on Sunday with a bouncer before taking the England opener by surprise with another that saw him depart for 26. The death of Phillip Hughes, Johnson’s Australia team-mate, in November after a freak injury sustained by a short-pitched delivery during a Sheffield Shield match briefly changed perceptions about its use. Johnson has stated he has worked through whatever effects that tragedy had and is now back to his aggressive best. “I’m a fast bowler who likes to bowl fast,” he said. “I don’t mind bowling that short ball – that’s always what I’ve tried to do in all formats of the game. It’s probably changed a little since Phil. Everyone was a bit funny about it at first but it’s part of the game. I’m still going to bowl short balls that can set up a wicket for me. I think it is still important, a very big part of the game. I’ll continue to bowl it.” Johnson, when prompted for a reason why he is now so at ease with roughing up batsmen again, said: “It’s just been time really. I’ve just let myself go and over time I’ve just felt better and better so hopefully I’m feeling better at the right time for the World Cup.” The Queenslander will hope to continue his hot streak against England not only in the World Cup but also in the Ashes series. One man who will hope to be fit and ready to partner him in England is Ryan Harris after it was announced on Monday that the 35-year-old seamer will be rested for the remainder of the state domestic season. The injury-prone Harris is being managed in readiness for the World Cup and Australia have mapped out a plan to get him completely fit for the Ashes tour that involves him training with the performance squad before setting off for the UK in June. Harris, who will miss Australia’s two-Test tour of the Caribbean that month, has been a key performer in the past two Ashes series, taking 24 wickets at 19.58 in England during 2013 and another 22 at 19.31 in the 2013-14 whitewash. Pat Howard, Cricket Australia’s performance manager, said: “With Ryan our priority is to ensure he is 100% fit and available for the Ashes.” Harris said: “I want to play as much cricket as I can as I know you are a long time retired but I recognise this is the best approach to ensuring I am absolutely right for the Ashes. I have huge ambitions to help us win a series in the United Kingdom and that goal is something that will drive me on over the coming months.” |