Toiling away on spin-friendly pitches in the desert heat of Dubai, Mitchell Johnson is making a habit of hurrying batsmen and taking wickets.
Six scalps at an average of 10.66 in the first two one-day internationals against Pakistan have boosted the left-arm quick’s confidence after taking four wickets at 38.00 in the recent ODI tri-series against South Africa and hosts Zimbabwe.
While the 2015 World Cup on home soil looms in February, Johnson’s focus is also on the two-Test series against Pakistan starting in Dubai on October 22.
And having made a success of bowling in short spells in the ODI format, the 32-year-old is determined to make the tactic work in the five-day game.
He’s spoken to former Test quick and ex-national selector Andy Bichel about the mind-altering effects of bowling fast in the United Arab Emirates.
The super-fit Bichel was famously placed on a saline drip after hallucinating following a four-over spell during the Test series against Pakistan in Sharjah, UAE in 2002.
“I’m pretty happy to go the short spells again, especially in these hot conditions,” Johnson said after Australia’s series-clinching win in game two of their three-game ODI series against Pakistan on Friday.
“You’ll find most of the bowlers will probably be used in sport spells over here.
“I did speak to Andy Bichel through email about playing over here.
“Most of the guys bowled shorter spells and he’d bowled quite a long lengthy spell and came off the ground almost with heat exhaustion.
“He just gave me a few tips. Stay hydrated.
“Make sure you get yourself right on the day before.”
As if to underline the danger Australia’s pace spearhead poses to Pakistan, the moustachoied quick broke through twice with the first ball of a new spell in Friday’s game.
“I’m there to try and be the aggressor, bowl and hit the wicket hard and bowl those bouncers,” Johnson said.
“On those wickets, things don’t change for me.”
The athletic Johnson says at his age he’s supposed to be shortening his run-up, but he’s done the opposite.
“I don’t listen to age, I don’t believe in all that,” he said.
“The role that I’ve got is short spells and I find it just gets the best out of me.
“I don’t know how long I’ll go for.”
MITCHELL JOHNSON’S RECENT EFFORTS
* Age: 32
* Bowls: left-arm fast
* State team: Western Australia
* One-day series v Pakistan in October 2014: 3-24 in Sharjah and 3-40 in Dubai
* One-day international record: 218 wickets at 25.68 in 142 games
* Test record: 264 wickets at 27.42 in 59 matches
* Test record in past 12 months: 59 wickets at 15.23 in 8 matches
* No.4 on ICC Test bowlers’ rankings
