Johnson must remain 'cool killer'

Written By Unknown on Senin, 09 Desember 2013 | 18.48

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Get Adobe Flash Player

THE mighty All Blacks rugby union side have a post-match tradition which involves some of game's greatest names sweeping the sheds.

Once the team has finished its celebrations (or, rarely, commiserations), captain Richie McCaw, super boot Dan Carter and other team leaders scurry around and make sure the sheds are swept and left in a presentable fashion.

The thinking behind this quaint little custom is that the All Blacks believe its impossible to dominate the world unless it comes from a base of having your feet firmly planted on the ground, of cutting off the emotional chord from your just-completed game, centring yourself for the next challenge and staying humble and composed.

This is the rare and unexpected challenge for the Australian cricket side now as they move in the rarefied air of being 2-0 up in an Ashes series which will surely deliver the famous urn, probably in Perth.

Both Tests have been hot-blooded affairs and the emotional kettle is still on the boil despite tempers being conspicuously held in check yesterday after a rough-house day four.

Australia promised they would play in-your-face cricket and so they have and after going nine Tests in a row without a victory they deserve a rousing celebration after winning two in a row.

The key now for Australia is not to get carried away by all the verbal ferocity or their sudden success.

They don't have to lose their heads to win in Perth. None of the England team were even born when their country last won in Perth in 1978, their only win from 12 Tests there.

The rampant forces of form, ability and hunger should do the trick for Australia against a side who seems to lack that electric crackle of desperation that drove them to the top of the world.

Mitchell Johnson destroyed England three years ago in Perth when he was not the bowler he is today.

In five Tests in Perth he has taken 36 wickets at 19 and has never taken less than five wickets in a Test there.

He can do it all again but he may have to revert back to being a cool killer for that is when he is at his best.

Johnson went for 1-73 in the second innings after his 7-40 in the first.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Get Adobe Flash Player

There were times on the fourth afternoon when England seemed to verbally challenge him and, while always dangerous, it was not his best work as the verbal stoush flowed back and forth.

England might well try it again hoping to distract him in Perth in front of his home crowd on wicket where everyone who has watched the series expects him to be the pivotal force.

Johnson knows he bowls best with a clear head and only three weeks ago said of Ashes combat "I have learnt in the past you can build it up too much and get too involved and emotional.''

Earlier this season he bowled a bouncer in Perth which bounced just twice before hitting the sight screen. The match strip is expected to be even bouncier than any Shield deck so it is all there for him.

Both teams have chirped away and pushed each other close to the line and sometimes beyond it in this captivating series which has revived cricket interest in Australia.

It's been incredibly watchable but at times it hasn't been pretty.

Public opinion has been split between those relishing the ferocity of it all and some who feel it has got a touch ugly.

Ben Stokes and Johnson were found to have done nothing wrong when they ran into each other on Sunday but they were originally charged with breaking the rules so it must have been a close run thing.

Players consistently talk about not crossing the line but no-one, the umpires included, seem to be quite sure where that line is.


Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang

Johnson must remain 'cool killer'

Dengan url

http://sportifoclube.blogspot.com/2013/12/johnson-must-remain-cool-killer.html

Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya

Johnson must remain 'cool killer'

namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link

Johnson must remain 'cool killer'

sebagai sumbernya

0 komentar:

Posting Komentar

techieblogger.com Techie Blogger Techie Blogger