Times Media
TELFORD VICE, Cape Town
FRIDAY'S first one-day international between Australia and SA in Perth might not be won and lost on the field. Instead, Mitchell Johnson said on Wednesday, the WACA’s nets could be the clash’s key site.
“These wickets down here are almost dangerous,” Johnson said of the practice pitches. “I think they are the most difficult wickets to play on, and if you can challenge the batsmen there they are going to get a good contest. When they get out to the middle, it’s a little bit easier.”
Johnson spoke after rapping Steve Smith on the finger during Australia’s training session. Smith continued batting, but last year Johnson broke David Warner’s finger in the nets. The fast bowler admitted he “felt pretty bad about it”. Not that he was about to stop treating his teammates as if they were in the enemy trenches.
“I always go hard in the nets and try to make it as realistic as possible without trying to kill the batsmen,” Johnson said. “I’m not not intending to hurt that batsmen. I’m not trying to knock their heads off. I’m just trying to practice the way I play.”
SA won two of their three ODIs against Australia in a triangular tournament in Harare in August and September, including the final. But Johnson warned against expecting that trend to continue: “We’re going to see a different type of game. In Zimbabwe, the wickets were quite low and slow.”
The teams got through that series and their three T20s on this tour without a flare-up in the aggression that had the umpires leaping about like boxing referees during the Newlands test in March.
Johnson, though, anticipated a resumption of hostilities.
“There’s always tension between the two sides,” he said. “In the end, we’re going to play them on skill - that’s what we’re about. We want to beat them with bat and ball.
“Whatever else happens, it happens out in the middle. It’s probably going to be fiery again, but want to go out there and play the best cricket we can.
“Both teams don’t like to lose. I think that’s where we see the fire in the game. They’ve got some of the best players in the world and we’ve got a couple ourselves. We’re just really competitive natured.”
On the other side of a very barbed wire fence, Faf du Plessis agreed: “We like to get into each other’s faces. That’s just the way we play our cricket.
“It’s aggressive and competitive, but when you step off the field ... I had a great time after the series in Zimbabwe after we beat them in the final when we sat afterwards and had a beer together. There was a lot of respect between the two teams.
“We want to do anything to win the game and they are the same.”
Ranged against Johnson on Friday will be SA’s Dale Steyn, the only bowler capable of scaring batsmen as effectively as the Australian.
“I’m looking forward to the contest, and I’m sure he’s looking forward to getting out there on these fast wickets,” Johnson said.
Du Plessis seemed pleased he only had to face Steyn in those “dangerous” WACA nets.
“Dale is very competitive - he wants to take wickets. He’s a fast bowler, he wants to bowl bouncers and as quickly as possible.”
Which, of course, won’t spare Du Plessis having to deal with Johnson on Friday.
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