Ashes 2015: Mitchell Johnson says he wasn’t concerned with drop in pace on West Indies tour

MITCHELL Johnson says he never had any doubt his searing pace would return on cue for an Ashes series, and is confident past torments in England are a thing of the past.

CANTERBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 26: Australia's Mitchell Johnson celebrates after bowling out Ben Harmison of Kent during day two of the tour match between Kent and Australia at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence on June 26, 2015 in Canterbury, England. (Photo by Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images)

MITCHELL Johnson says he never had any doubt his searing pace would return on cue for an Ashes series, and is confident past torments in England are a thing of the past.

English fans tried their old trick of booing Johnson in the tour match at Canterbury, but those “he bowls to the left, he bowls to the right,” lyrics are starting to sound a little hollow these days.

Johnson admits he had a point to prove after a concerning drop in speed in the West Indies raised question marks over whether his place in charge of the Aussie attack was as safe as it once seemed.

But the days of Johnson second guessing himself in his own head ended when he torched England with 37 wickets last Ashes series.

Johnson took four wickets in the first innings of the tour match against Kent, and the England destroyer is back in the driver’s seat.

“I felt like I dropped a bit of pace throughout the West Indies and through the IPL but it wasn’t too much of a concern for me,” Johnson told Fox Sports.

“I’m really excited about getting over here and playing in these conditions because I know the ball swings here.

“In overcast conditions the ball is actually quite nice in the hand so I wasn’t too concerned about the pace, but it was nice to get out there and let a few rip.

“I think we (the fast bowlers) have all been challenged to be honest. Everyone is fighting for a spot.

“I’ve experienced it that many times now and for me it’s just going out there and playing the best cricket I can and doing my job for the team.”

Johnson will already go down in Ashes folklore for what he did on home soil in 2013-14, but his legacy will only grow if he can make amends in the UK for the horror tour he endured against England in 2009.

The crowd got into the left-armer, and the ball went everywhere, setting Johnson’s confidence back significantly.

But Johnson is no longer one to dwell on the past and English boos now bring a smile to his face.

“I had a pretty tough time of it the last Ashes series I was here so it’s nice to get over here and play well. It was a pretty vocal crowd today which was good,” Johnson smirked, hinting at the heckling.

“If you’re going to look at stats you can but that’s not how I operate. I just like to go out there on any wicket I play on and give it my all and try to enjoy myself.

“You never know when it’s your last game.”

Ryan Harris struggled for consistency early in Australia’s tour match, but finished the first innings with two wickets.

The 35-year-old has the most work to do out of any of the quicks to force his way into the anticipated three-man pace attack for the first Test in Cardiff.

Harris is fit and fresh having not played for six months, however he is lacking match practice.

However, former England Ashes batsman and Kent stalwart Rob Key who said he wasn’t “paid enough” to face Johnson – said Harris also wasn’t far away from his damaging best.

“I don’t think he was far off,” said Key.

“He’s on you and I think the more he bowls it won’t be long before he finds rhythm. He really is a very good bowler.”

It would seem Harris will be given another trundle in Australia’s second and final tour match against Essex this week.

Meanwhile, Alastair Cook admits he is unsure whether he will continue captaining England after this Ashes series.

Cook has been in limbo since he oversaw the catastrophic 5-0 whitewash in Australia 18 months ago and told the Guardian he now takes “every series as an individual event” and will seek clarification on his future from new coach Trevor Bayliss.

Originally published as Ashes 2015: Mitchell Johnson says he wasn’t concerned with drop in pace on West Indies tour