We wanted Johnson to intimidate Indian batsmen: Bailey

[rkt.india]

PUNE: Australia captain George Bailey said that Mitchell Johnson was assigned a specific role to "intimidate" Indian batsmen with raw pace and the left-arm speedster did a "fantastic" job. "Mitch --- we wanted him to go out there and bowl fast, intimidate batsmen and take wickets. I think he did that. He's going to be important for us to have him firing, the energy he brings in. He led us from the front which is good." Bailey was especially pleased that his fast bowlers performed as a unit. "Clint (McKay) and Mitchell (Johnson) started fantastically well and made it really hard for the Indian boys to score. Mitch was fast. Jimmy (James Faulkner) got targeted a bit early but fought back very well. It was a fantastic all-round bowling performance, which we need to have in the series as the Indian batting is so strong," Bailey said. The Aussie skipper elaborated the individual strengths of McKay and Faulkner. "Clint probably is not going to intimidate batsmen as much but he's pretty accurate, swings the ball, so length is going to be pretty important to him. James is a little bit different does a bit of both. He finds ways to keep himself in the game and also takes wickets." He also praised the batting of opener Aaron Finch who completed his second successive half century having started off on a blazing note during the one-off T20 game at Rajkot. "I don't think anyone likes facing someone bowling really fast. I think they (Indians) swung the ball nicely up front. Finch batted so well he first got 2 out of 20 balls which is unlike him, but he found a way to get through that (phase) and did not throw it away which is great for us. "That was a nice little partnership for us and probably during what was the most dangerous part for us when the Indians can swing the ball," Bailey explained. "What is good about Finch is that he has been doing it consistently. When someone is having a partnership with him, the game flows along nicely, just because he's always putting pressure back onto the bowlers. Bailey feels that a contribution from most of the players is a good sign as they started the one day series on a good note. "The most important thing is the contribution from so many people. We did not rely on someone getting six wickets or getting a big hundred. A lot of them will feel they had a good game tonight which is great." Asked about Brad Haddin's freak eye injury that required him to leave the field for medical attention, the skipper didn't forget to do a bit of leg-pulling off his senior glovesman. "He (Haddin) came back and kept wickets because his eyes were alright or may be he was nervous as Hughes was keeping so well," he joked.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/series-tournament/australia-in-india-2013/top-stories/We-wanted-Johnson-to-intimidate-Indian-batsmen-Bailey/articleshow/24133213.cms

[Gunner]

It's been a long while since I last saw such a fast opening spell.

[rkt.india]

It's been a long while since I last saw such a fast opening spell.

Johnson is doing this in every match since his come back though this is fastest I have ever seen him bowl or the fastest he has bowled in his life.

[Laaloo]

Doesnt take much to intimidate FTBs on a good wicket with fast bowling. Good on you Johnson. We need to figure out who will be there for us in the next world cup. Can't have the same set of bunch when we play overseas otherwise it would be like the t20 wc over again where everyone embarrassed us with short balls.

[Gunner]

I hope he doesn't get injured, it will be spectacular watching him bowl with such pace on Australian pitches during the Ashes.

[King Tendulkar]

Doesnt take much to intimidate FTBs on a good wicket with fast bowling. Good on you Johnson. We need to figure out who will be there for us in the next world cup. Can't have the same set of bunch when we play overseas otherwise it would be like the t20 wc over again where everyone embarrassed us with short balls.

Well he bullied english in recent odis as well. Thrilling. 95 mph bowling Trott got brutalised Like I have been saying Johnson is most exciting cricketer in world cricket at moment. First time in a while a bowler is intimidating batters with raw pace Creidt to rohit and virat in the way they played him. Will find out a lot about our boys facing him. Interesting to see how dhawan goes against him

[vvvslaxman]

I am glad they are coming hard at us. This series will be forgotten very soon. But it is a golden opportunity for our young players to get tested.

[srij]

johnson really did the damage despite taking 0 wkt,it was like 2009 t20 world cup yesterday

[Number]

I am glad they are coming hard at us. This series will be forgotten very soon. But it is a golden opportunity for our young players to get tested.

+1 and I want it played on the wickets which have pace not dustbowls.

[SLICKR392]

johnson really did the damage despite taking 0 wkt' date='it was like 2009 t20 world cup yesterday[/quote'] He picked Yuvraj's wicket.

[GautiMaan]

I am glad they are coming hard at us. This series will be forgotten very soon. But it is a golden opportunity for our young players to get tested.

:agree: I also hope someone goes after him in the next game.

[G_B_]

dont know why it comes as a surprise to people. he was bowling really fast even in the t20 at rajkot and has been bowling fast for mumbai indians for the entire ipl season starting in april infact i he was super quick in the final test v india in march as well

[Sandeep99]

Certainly did that.. Only Rohit played him confidently to some extent

[Lord]

we had Ishant for same job:cantstop:

[Sandeep99]

we had Ishant for same job:cantstop:

And boy, he intimidated every Indian player, didn't he?!:hysterical:

[vvvslaxman]

we had Ishant for same job:cantstop:

Ball was certainly intimidated at the hands of Ishant.

[Square Drive]

^ :hysterical:

[rkt.india]

dont know why it comes as a surprise to people. he was bowling really fast even in the t20 at rajkot and has been bowling fast for mumbai indians for the entire ipl season starting in april infact i he was super quick in the final test v india in march as well

He did not play in T20 at Rajkot. He has gained an extra yard of pace since he has sorted out his runup.

[rkt.india]

Doesnt take much to intimidate FTBs on a good wicket with fast bowling. Good on you Johnson. We need to figure out who will be there for us in the next world cup. Can't have the same set of bunch when we play overseas otherwise it would be like the t20 wc over again where everyone embarrassed us with short balls.

Same batsmen thrashed South Africans everywhere on a green tinged bouncy track under overcast conditions in CT in England.

[vvvslaxman]

Same batsmen thrashed South Africans everywhere on a green tinged bouncy track under overcast conditions in CT in England.

Sometimes we lose perspective in the heat of the moment. Johnson when in rythm and conditions assist him a bit can be a handful against any side. Remember how bowled at Perth against England http://www.espncricinfo.com/the-ashes-2010-11/engine/match/428751.html He took 4 for 7 in a short burst in this test. He is wayward. When he gets it right he can be a handful. He troubled Dravid consistently with his away going delivery This was his first match against India http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/256608.html Same guy was clobbered all over by Dhoni and Raina in this match http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/416237.html