Cricket World Cup: Mitchell Johnson still full of confidence despite group game pummelling

FIRED-UP Aussie spearhead Mitchell Johnson has dared opposition batsmen to take him on in the pressure-cooker of a World Cup sudden-death showdown.

CWC: Cricket World Cup Australia vs. Scotland, Bellerive Oval. BYLINE: LUKE BOWDEN: Mitchell Johnson bowling

FIRED-UP Aussie spearhead Mitchell Johnson has dared opposition batsmen to take him on in the pressure-cooker of a World Cup sudden-death showdown.

While Mitchell Starc has stepped into the limelight, Johnson has copped some cruel and unusual punishment in the group stages.

Against New Zealand the 33-year-old veteran was slaughtered by Brendon McCullum and Corey Anderson, and against Sri Lanka, Tillakaratne Dilshan carted him for six straight boundaries in one devastating over at the SCG.

But Johnson insists he has nothing to prove.

The man who single-handedly destroyed England last Ashes series knows he can deliver when it really matters and has invited Pakistan’s big-hitters to run the gauntlet at their peril in Friday’s quarter-final knock-out in Adelaide.

Mitchell Johnson got hit for six consecutive fours by Tillakaratne Dilshan.

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“I’m not stressed about it,” said Johnson.

“(Being hit) is something I’ve expected throughout this tournament with the way the game is.

“It will be interesting to see when there’s a bit more pressure on how guys play the game.

“Coming into a quarter-final we’ll see if guys are still prepared to play that type of cricket.

“I’m ready for whatever’s going to come at me.”

There’s no doubting that Johnson, like all the Australian players, have been going their hardest, irrespective of the opposition.

But the very best athletes can always find another gear when the big moment arrives.

And there’s no getting away from the fact that the World Cup starts now.

Mitchell Johnson showing some good form in the nets.

Johnson’s efforts so far with nine wickets at 22.6 is far from shabby, but it’s now that he plans to answer the call to arms.

“This is what we’re playing for,” he said.

“This is why – we want to win the World Cup and that’s our goal.

“We’re one step closer now so we’ve just got to keep taking it one step at a time.”

The rise of Starc has put Johnson in the unfamiliar position of playing second fiddle.

The 25-year-old Mitchell has been an unstoppable force this World Cup with a tournament-high 16 wickets at an unbelievable average of 8.5.

But he hasn’t come down in the last shower.

The Aussies will be relying heavily on Johnson and Starc.

Starc’s career average of 18.62 is the best of any one-day bowler in history to have delivered more than 1000 balls.

Johnson has flirted with retirement discussion at stages this summer, but it’s his own performance and not the rise of one of his teammates that will dictate his future.

In fact Johnson is more than happy to ride shotgun to Starc in the knock-out matches.

“I’m not really sure at the moment (about my future),” said Johnson.

“I’ve been talking to a couple of boys, it always comes up in the conversation.

“I just want to play and if my body can hold up that’s good. But once I’m not performing to how I want to, I guess I’ll have to think about (dropping) one of the formats.

“I want to be greedy and play as much as I can.

“I feel like I’m one of those bowlers that the more I bowl, the better I feel with rhythm.

Michael Clarke gets hisa point across to Mitchell Johnson.

“It’s very important to play my role in the team. I’ve really enjoyed being a first-change or second-change bowler throughout this tournament – I think it’s suited the team.

“(To allow) Starcy to use that new ball and swing it around.”

Johnson was part of the Australian touring party humiliated by Pakistan in the UAE last October.

But the powerful left-armer says that’s ancient history now, and there’s a much bigger goal on the horizon than revenge.

“This is a World Cup.”