English team was baffled by the both ways swing and quick pace of Mitchell Johnson in the third Test match at WACA, Perth.
Prolific English batsman Kevin Pietersen has shown determination to bounce back hard in the next crunch game. Melbourne Cricket Ground is set to cater the fourth Test match and Pietersen declared that Johnson will not spoil their party as he did in the last
Test.
Out of form Johnson struggled to keep his spot in the playing eleven and was dropped for the second Test. However, he returned to the side and earned man of the match award for his all-round performance in the Third test.
Johnson batted resiliently in the first innings and stabilised the Australian team with a gutsy innings of 62 runs. He was the top scorer and settled well with Michael Hussey who scored 61. With the ball, he ripped off the English batting line up and grabbed
six wickets. Johnson bowled with purpose and made the ball swing both ways. Kevin Pietersen accepted that the England camp was astonished at Johnson’s show. Talking to the media he said, “Definitely took us by surprise, for sure, but he bowled well, bowled
really, really well, he bowled a really good game of cricket.”
He continued expressing that the English batsmen are skilled and capable to face Johnson’s swing and speed. He claimed that Johnson was a surprise element and they were not hopping that the ball will do this much. He said, “Obviously we're going to prepare
ourselves for that swinging ball. We knew he was going to swing it, but we didn't think he was going to swing it that much."
As a typical Australian quickie, Mitchell Johnson had a lot to say on the field. Pietersen was up the task as well. Both stars are known to be purposeful and strong individuals, both love the rivalry will playing.
After the Perth Test, Johnson stated that he enjoyed the wicket of Pietersen and he clarified that there is no friendship between him and Pietersen. When asked the question on their relationship, Pietersen replied, “I don't have a relationship with Mitchell
Johnson.” Pietersen believes that sledging is just a normal part of the Ashes series and he is not bothered much about it.
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