ENGLAND is in complete denial about the dominance Mitchell Johnson holds over them, with captain Eoin Morgan bizarrely claiming the Australian spearhead didn’t even bowl well in the one-day tri-series final.
Johnson sparked a complete clean-out of England cricket last summer and on Sunday night he worked on instigating another crisis with an awe-inspiring return to action at the WACA with figures of 3-27.
But Morgan was desperate to play down Johnson’s intimidation factor, denying the left-armer had re-opened old wounds.
Morgan was one of Johnson’s helpless opponents - failing to offer a shot to a sizzling delivery that cannoned through his stumps.
Yet post-match the England skipper said Johnson couldn’t even swing it and wasn’t the dominant force it appeared.
“Absolutely not,” said Morgan.
“I don’t think he swung it … we must’ve put ourselves under pressure. It could have been anyone bowling, we had a really bad day and that’s the only way to describe it.”
Glenn Maxwell says Australia is on track heading into the Cricket World Cup after an undefeated Tri-Series performance.
Australian man-of-the-match Glenn Maxwell’s response said it all.
“Sorry, say that again,” he said when told of Morgan’s comments.
“But Mitchell did it (took the three wickets). He had 3-11 at one stage and tore through their top order.
“They can be not worried at all but if they’re getting skittled by him then they probably should be.
“What sort of statement is that?”
Johnson wouldn’t have recognised the three Englishmen he turned into bunnies in Australia’s tri-series final win in Perth – James Taylor, Moeen Ali and Morgan.
That’s because he’s already ended the careers of the tourists he decimated last season.
But Johnson’s three-wicket performance did the job of re-opening fresh wounds for the old enemy and ensuring Australia takes all the momentum into its World Cup opener against England at the MCG in less than a fortnight’s time.
It’s a dual-Mitch attack for Australia, with Mitchell Starc taking out player of the series honours.
The sight of Johnson unleashing at 150km/h and charging down the wicket in unbridled celebration wasn’t as common this summer against India as it was the last.
Missing the fourth Test with hamstring soreness and then the majority of the one-day tri-series due to a personal issue has taken Johnson out of the picture for over a month.
But physically, the time on the sidelines appears to have freshened up Johnson, who admits he was in urgent need of a rest after nearly 18 months of carrying Australian hopes.
“It’s hard sitting back at home, but it’s something I needed to freshen me up,” he said.
“I felt very privileged to be back for the final.
“It’s nice to get back out there. This is a big moment for this team leading into a World Cup, so good to win this series.”
Curiously Johnson didn’t take the new ball on his home WACA deck, but when he came on in the seventh over he didn’t take long to hit top speed.
Johnson thrived on the bounce and pace once more after complaining about the conditions served up to him over the summer.
It’s bad news for minnows Afghanistan, who Australia play in Perth during the World Cup.
Johnson was on a hat-trick after he skittled Ali and Morgan in the 11th over – and although he missed it, the big left-armer felt he’d done his job.
“I thought it set us up.”
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