Shane Warne has backed Mitchell Johnson to deliver on his bold pre-Ashes predictions, saying maturity has made the left-arm speedster more reliable.
The 32-year-old, named in Australia’s squad for the first Test, has promised to test England’s batsmen, particularly Alastair Cook and Jonathan Trott, with short balls directed at the ribs or throat.
Johnson regularly topped 150kph during the recent one-day series in India.
While erratic line and length have generally made him a boom or bust proposition at Test level, Warne said that had changed.
“He’s forced his way in through bowling some serious pace, he’s going to shake the English side up,” Warne told reporters in Melbourne, after playing in Wednesday’s Australian Masters pro-am.
“If he gets it right, which we’re all hoping he will, I think he will this time.
“He’s a bit older, a bit more mature and knows his role a bit better, knows his body better, knows how he bowls.
“His role’s going to be go out to just bowl quick.”
Warne also backed the selection of George Bailey, picked to make his Test debut at No.6.
It was based almost entirely on Bailey’s superb one-day form in India, but Warne said the 50-over format had regularly been a breeding ground for Test players.
“If a guy’s in form it’s pretty hard to resist,” Warne said.
“He’s been consistent in making those runs and the way he’s been getting them.”
Warne, who wrote last week that captain Michael Clarke must work on improving team harmony, said it had been a good move naming the squad for the Gabba Test, which starts on November 21, well beforehand.
“They all look happy, they’re all in form, so all the signs have been good for Australia,” he said.
“England were the better side in England in the last Ashes series, they deserve to be favourites for this series.
“But we’re on Australia’s turf, it’s time for our guys to put their hand up.”
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