Switchblade Posted March 24, 2014 Author Posted March 24, 2014 Bailey is still optimistic about Australian spearhead and Punjab’s new recruit, Mitchell Johnson’s fitness. He said, “I haven’t spoke to Mitch for a while but the last I heard was that he was improving and should be fully fit by the time IPL comes around. As everyone has seen, Mitch [Johnson] has been bowling really fast recently and he is one of biggest game-changers. He has the ability to wreck a side by picking a lot of wickets in a short span of time.” http://www.cricketcountry.com/news/ipl-7-bowlers-still-afraid-of-virender-sehwag-says-george-bailey-115506
Switchblade Posted March 28, 2014 Author Posted March 28, 2014 Johnson promises more fire in IPL http://www.espncricinfo.com/indian-premier-league-2014/content/current/story/731527.html "Definitely it is a psychological advantage based on the past six months of my performances," Johnson said in a media call arranged by the franchise on Wednesday. "(I bowled) A lot of short-pitched bowling which was more effective on our bouncier wickets (in Australia and South Africa). But even on the last ODI series in India I definitely tried to bowl short-pitched deliveries. "I have often said I really do enjoy the challenges of Indian wickets. I find that you can still get good bounce and pace out of them and I noticed that during the last IPL last year. It wasn't all just for the batsmen. I'm really excited playing on those wickets in India again and try and be intimidating as I have been in the last six months or so," he said. "a long summer which was quite draining" for him. "The toe is feeling much better. I had an infection that came from my toe, went into my foot and up my leg. But I got on top of it very quickly with some antibiotics. I have started training this week. I am feeling very good and I will be ready to go, ball one of the IPL," Johnson said. "I might be as well prepared as I am going to be fit. I am going to be fresher. I am going to very keen because it is a new club and I would like to impress. Whatever are the responsibilities are there I am really excited about them. I know how to perform at my best and I am feeling at the top of my game so I just want to keep getting better as a player and try and bring some of the young guys with me and try and improve their game," Johnson said. Lot of players were in the auction pool this year and that made it very difficult for everyone. It would have been exciting to obviously go back there (Mumbai), but I am very happy with Kings XI Punjab," "My manager talked to Adam Gilchrist, who said he really enjoyed a very special time there and it was a family-oriented atmosphere. I am not upset. I am not angry. I am not disappointed. This is the way it goes. I am now excited to play for the Kings and lead by example," he said. "We have a very well balanced side". "Glenn Maxwell is in great form. He is a very exciting player. He showed the other night against Pakistan during the WT20 what he can do. Having him in the side is a huge bonus. Then we have Shaun Marsh, with whom I have played at Western Australia, an outstanding T20 player. Dave Miller can hit a long ball and that is what it is all about: hitting boundaries and the balls over the fence and getting crowds excited. Then obviously we have the experience of Sehwag, a batsman a lot of bowlers in the world struggle to bowl against. Rishi Dhawan is a good allrounder who was also with me to Mumbai, so it is a very good side," Johnson said. "My batting has probably been lacking in the shorter forms because coming in late in the game it is quite hard to hit from ball one. It is about getting my eye in as quickly as possible. It is an important role batting lower order as the extra bit of runs are definitely handy in this form of the game. I always work on my batting and hopefully I can be fine with my bat as well," Johnson, whose Twenty20 average is about 10, said.
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