Johnson will spearhead Aussie attack in Third Test
The past year has been a steep learning curve for Mitchell Johnson,
who made his Test debut last November and 14 months later finds himself
leading Australia’s attack. When the third Test starts in Sydney on
Saturday, Johnson will be the spearhead in a bowling group featuring
Peter Siddle and Nathan Hauritz in their fourth Tests and a debutant -
either Doug Bollinger or Ben Hilfenhaus.
It is a vastly different role for Johnson, who entered the summer as
the third fast man behind Brett Lee and Stuart Clark. However, Clark has
had surgery on his troublesome right elbow and Lee’s left foot also
requires an operation, which has left Johnson as the senior bowler in
what will be his 18th Test.
Australia’s challenge is to come back from the disappointment of
their first home series loss in 16 years to aim for victory in the dead
rubber at the SCG. Johnson said he hoped the injection of youth into the
squad - the allrounder Andrew McDonald is also set to debut - would lift
the team.
“I still think we’re a very strong side, even though we’ve got a lot
of young guys in the team,” Johnson said after Australia arrived in
Sydney. “You’ve got Dougie Bollinger, Andrew McDonald, these guys, Ben
Hilfenhaus, they’re going to come into the side with a lot of bubble.
I’m still backing our team. We’re going to keep positive and do our best
in Sydney.”
Australia have not suffered a whitewash in a Test series at home
since the 19th century and if they do concede the Sydney match they will
also hand over the No. 1 Test ranking to South Africa. Johnson said his
overwhelming feeling after the MCG loss was shock, although he said
South Africa had thoroughly deserved their success.
“I can’t speak for the whole team,” he said. “I guess yesterday
afternoon I was in a little bit of shock after coming off the field. You
go out there and you are trying to do your best for your country and
everyone in the team is trying to do their best. No one likes losing. “I
guess to be two-nil down in the series, it has come as a little bit of a
disappointment for us. But South Africa are a very, very strong side.
They are number two in the world so I guess they outplayed us and they
deserve every reward that they get.” (Cricinfo) |