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With Michael Clarke (58 from 55 balls) and Mitchell Johnson (4/19) doing the job for Australia against Zimbabwe, have they silenced the critics who would prefer them fail rather than prosper?
Roarer Brendon thinks that the “amount of crap those two cop from the idiots out there in the public … is ridiculous” suggests someone who actually thinks Mitchell Johnson might be Dennis Lillee in disguise.
Let’s be serious here for a minute. A quick look at Johnson’s history and performances tell a different story.
Basically, he out-Harmisons Harmison in his ability to attack fine leg and the slips with the ball. I’m sure he can see the pitch, and the stumps, he just has trouble putting the ball anywhere near.
I would also suggest his tally of Test wickets is more a reflection on modern batting styles and techniques than anything Johnson is particularly doing. I’m also sure the fact he’s a left-hander does occasionally help him get a wicket he may not get if he was right-handed.
I have no doubt that Johnson could bowl all day to a Peter May, a Colin Cowdrey or a Ken Barrington and never get them out unless they get tired and make a mistake. I shudder to think what may happen if the batsman at the other end was Sobers or Richards (Viv or Barry).
Johnson cops criticism because he bowls far too much rubbish for a Test strike bowler. This is the same bowler, incidentally, who lost the ball to Marcus North in Cardiff a couple of years ago because he could not clean up the English tail. In fact, he never looked like it, and his captain simply lost faith in him.
Lillee would have won the Test for Australia, as would Alan Davidson, another left-hander who Johnson would do well to seek out for a chat.
It’s not personal this criticism of Johnson, or Clarke. It comes as a result of poor performances and a lack of effort being made to correct the obvious deficiencies.
Perhaps Johnson is incapable of fixing his problems? Perhaps the odd good performance tells him that nothing is wrong?
However, 4 for little against Zimbabwe is just one swallow not yet making a summer. Let’s see him do it against India, South Africa et al. and then he will get the credit you think he deserves. But let’s just wait and see first.
I absolutely do not think Australian supporters would rather see Johnson (or Clarke) fail than win. We’ll take the win every time.
All we want is for Johnson to actually contribute something positive. As for Clarke, he has performed better recently but his Test series was a shocker and he deserved the caning he got from the fans and the press.
Mind you, I still think he’s a better captain than Ponting, but it’s his batting that is currently required.
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