After rediscovering his magic touch, Australian pace ace Mitchell Johnson will attempt to heap more pain on Victoria in the upcoming Sheffield Shield match at the WACA Ground, starting on Sunday.
Johnson continued his solid start to the domestic season by snaring 3-43 off 11.4 overs in Western Australia’s 25-run one-day victory over the Bushrangers on Friday.
The 30-year-old hasn’t featured in Test ranks since breaking down with a foot injury in South Africa last November, but WA skipper Marcus North believes Johnson is in a good head space and ready to unleash his best once again.
“He’s leading the attack really well,” North said.
“He’s got the ball swinging, which is always exciting when you get a bloke bowling 140kph-plus, and the guys are just feeding off that.
“He’s certainly in form, there’s no doubt about it.
“The good thing is he’s taking wickets, he’s swinging the ball, got good rhythm and he’s got good pace.
“But most importantly he’s consistent.
“At times, people have been critical that he’s been inconsistent in spells or in games where he can leak a high run rate.
“But at the moment you’re seeing a guy being very consistent, swinging the ball and bowling at good pace.”
Bushrangers duo Peter Siddle and James Pattinson, who were both rested for Friday’s one-dayer, will also be eager to prove a point to national selectors in the Shield encounter.
Pattinson has snared a remarkable 26 wickets in his fledgling five-Test career, but has also endured a frustrating run with injuries over that period.
Although Pattinson and Siddle represent a big threat to WA’s batting line-up, fit-again all-rounder John Hastings is also a danger after returning figures of 4-59 off 13 overs in the one-dayer.
“It’s been a long, hard road this rehab,” said Hastings, who failed to play a game last summer after undergoing shoulder surgery.
“It was my fourth shoulder operation so I’ve put in countless hours of rehab.
“It’s just fantastic to be back out there with the boys.”
WA trio Adam Voges (back), Nathan Rimmington (hamstring) and Michael Hogan (side) must pass fitness tests on Saturday if they are to take part in the Shield clash.
WA: Marcus North (capt), Michael Beer, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Liam Davis, Marcus Harris, Michael Hogan, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Nathan Rimmington, Tom Triffitt, Adam Voges. (12th man to be named).
Victoria: Andrew McDonald (capt), Scott Boland, Ryan Carters, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, John Hastings, Michael Hill, Jon Holland, Alex Keath, Darren Pattinson, James Pattinson, Rob Quiney, Chris Rogers, Will Sheridan, Peter Siddle. (three to be omitted, 12th man to be named).