Mitchell Johnson declines to be part of warm-up fixture for the Ashes

Team England had a big sigh of relief when former Australian speedster Mitchell Johnson declined to be a part of the warm up match in the lead up to the Ashes 2017-18. Johnson, who retired from the longest format of the game a season ago, was offered to be a part of the team that would take on the visiting England side in the warm up game.

This could have essentially served the purpose of getting back to the rhythm for Mitchell Johnson ahead of the Big Bash League 2017-18 season. Johnson is a part of the Perth Scorchers roster this season as well. Last year, Johnson had wreaked havoc in the semi finals of the BBL when he returned with the most economical figures in the history of the T20 cricket – 3/3.

Amidst this backdrop, it was expected that Mitchell Johnson would accept the offer to be a part of the warm-up game. But, as per the reports in the West Australian newspaper, the 36-year old is not pondering any return to the longer format matches. He had quit international cricket due to the same reason and for being on the wrong side of the age cap.

Going down the memory lanes, Johnson had the English side dancing to his tunes when the Poms last visited Australia for the Ashes. It was in the 2013/14 season when Johnson’s heroics were instrumental in handing a whitewash win for the hosts. He had bagged figures of 7/40 in the second Test match. His lethal bowling had the sweet chin music ringing for the English batsmen.

Coulter-Nile eyeing the opportunity

Meanwhile, pacer Nathan Coulter-Nile is seeing the opportunity as a big one. In the absence of Johnson, Coulter-Nile would want to make a statement in the longer formats of the game. He was the most successful bowler for Australia in their most recent ODI assignment in India.