Australia pace bowler Mitchell Johnson has warned England to expect another ferocious assault in Saturday’s fourth one-day international in Cardiff.
Johnson was not selected for the recent Ashes series which England won 3-0, but he has returned for the five limited overs matches and has already made quite an impact.
The 31-year-old left-armer has a point to prove as he looks to secure a spot in Australia’s squad for the Ashes rematch on home soil later this year and he showed his pace and aggression can still cause problems when he bounced out Jonathan Trott at Old Trafford and then dismissed Kevin Pietersen the same way at Edgbaston.
“I have that confidence and belief in my bowling,” Johnson said on Friday.
“Whoever I’m up against, I’m confident I can get them out and intimidate them – that’s what I’ll be doing here and in every game going forward.
“When you can get those guys out with the short ball, it can be very intimidating – and the short ball is part of my armoury.
“When I’ve been at my best, being aggressive, I bowl that ‘armpit’ ball or a nice ball to the throat of the batsman – and then I try to use the ball swinging, getting it up there for the lbws or bowleds or catches behind.”
Johnson senses he may have already struck some psychological blows against the opposition, as well as physical ones, after Trott was hit on the helmet in Birmingham.
“I hope they are wary of me,” he said. “I just have to keep being aggressive and keep it simple.”
Australia are 1-0 up with two to play in the one-day series, but, while Johnson would be pleased to help his team end a troubled tour on a high note, he is more concerned with showing he deserves to add to his 51 Test caps.
“I feel like I’ve been performing. I want to play Test cricket, that’s my number one format,” he said.