Ashes 2017/18: Mitchell Johnson Feels England's Senior Players Suffering From Scars of Previous Ashes
Published - 20 Dec 2017, 08:51 PM | Updated - 22 Aug 2024, 11:47 PM
Australia regained the Urn in the third Test at the WACA as they defeated England by an innings and 41 runs. England was completely outplayed in all the three Tests, and except for some of the individual performances, they hardly had anything to cheer about in the three Tests. Steven Smith and Australia dominated the tourists in all the three aspects of the game, be it batting, bowling or fielding. Australia completely decimated England in the Ashes and now have a 3-0 lead in the series.
England has suffered because of the poor performances by their senior players like Alastair Cook and Stuart Broad. Cook has scored just 83 runs in the three Tests and has failed against the Australian pace battery. On the other hand, fast bowler Stuart Broad has struggled to replicate his performances of the previous Ashes series. Broad who has been England’s prime wicket-taker has picked up just five wickets in the three Tests at an average of 61.8. He came up with his worst ever bowling figures in Tests in the third match at the WACA.
Johnson played 73 Tests for Australia in which he claimed 313 wickets at an average of 28.40. Photo Credit: Getty Images.
Former Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson who picked up 37 wickets in the previous Ashes played Down-Under feels that the senior players are suffering from the scars of the previous Ashes in Australia. Johnson was the player of the series in the 2013/14 Ashes, and almost single-handedly won the hosts the Ashes. Johnson feels that the England management must think about changes and must make a decision over the pair.
He said:
“Going to the next Test I think England will have to think about changes. I’m not sure if Stuart Broad is up to it at the moment. There will be some question marks around him, [as] a senior player. Alastair Cook is someone who I think has been thinking about retirement. I just wonder now with the scoreline being 3-0 whether that will take a bit of pressure off him and he’ll just go out there and score runs. I’m not sure. I think the scars are there from the last series.”
He also feels that England should call in Mark Wood who can bowl at over 90 m/ph to put up a fight in the remaining Tests:
“I look forward to him playing if he gets the opportunity, they should pick him even if he’s slightly underdone,” said Johnson. “From a pace point of view, someone bowling over 87-91mph can definitely change the game.”
