Johnson says public criticism of fiancee Jessica by mother Vikki has not affected his performance
Johnson says public criticism of fiancee Jessica by mother Vikki has not affected his performance
Almost dropped from the team for his woeful loss of form, exacerbated by personal problems, Australian pace spearhead Mitchell Johnson claims a more in-your-face approach was behind his greatly-improved performance in the drawn third Ashes Test at Edgbaston.
Johnson admitted he put too much pressure on himself and was overawed at the prospect of playing in his first Ashes series in England, especially at Lord's.
However, he denied Australia's gallant fightback to draw the third Test and go into Friday's fourth match at Headingley trailing 0-1 in the series was the result of reaction to criticism from Shane Warne and others that his team was lacking in aggression (KHALIDOSCOPE, August 3).
Before the series started it was reported Australia wanted to cut out sledging and play within the spirit of the game.
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"We were pretty good with it, especially our body language. We were right up and ready to go," Johnson said.
"Hopefully this Test has brought it back a bit. We need intensity out there."
Johnson also denied that the public criticism of his fiancu00e9e Jessica Bratich by his mother Vikki Harber had affected his performance.
"Nothing on the outside affects the way I play my cricket," he said. "That's all left behind. It's all about what happens on the field."
Although unlucky to have some confident leg-before appeals turned down, Johnson claimed the important wickets of Ian Bell (53) and Graeme Swann (24), although he still fell short of his wonted hostility.
The drawn third Test was notable for the on-field exchanges between players on both sides, especially involving Andrew Flintoff, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Broad, Graeme Swann, Jimmy Anderson and Michael Hussey.
Bowling round the wicket in a fierce effort to replicate his series-winning man of the match performance at the same ground in 2005, Flintoff, who scored a whirlwind 74 off as many balls on Monday, made the ball rear nastily to deal Shane Watson and Mike Hussey painful blows to the body.
"The whole team wanted to really stand up to these guys and show a bit more intent out there," Johnson is reported as saying to the media.
The umpires did not pay heed to the heated exchanges, especially on the fourth day of the Test.
Flintoff said it was competitive cricket and neither side had crossed the limits.
"I don't think anything spilled over," Flintoff said.
"The two sides are very competitive and I think that is coming across.
"The game has been played tough but in a good spirit.
"In the first two Tests I was just bowling a ball and walking back, not really getting in their faces. Even if I said nothing, at least get in there and give a bit of a stare. Let them know that we're there.
"Obviously confidence on my part let the team down a bit in that regard in the first two Tests.
"It's obviously something we talked about in this Test. They've got a lot of guys who are performing well at the moment, so if we can get them on edge, we might start getting a nick here and there. That's exactly what you want."
(With inputs from media reports)
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