Mitchell Johnson

[Red]

Absolutely dominated the GABBA test. Runs, wickets, intimidation. Was the difference between the two teams imo.

I've been a critic of MJ in the past, but I've always advocated that when conditions suit him, he is one of the most damaging bowlers ever. His batting at #8 significantly strengthens the lineup, and his bowling when conditions suit is irrepressible.

Heading in to this test he was probably the fringe bowler, but he'd be first picked for the next few tests now.

What legacy with MJ leave when he finishes? And has there ever been a player with a bigger discrepancy between his best and worst?

And finally, he should keep that 'stache. For the series. It's working for him. It's well known that a moustache increases a man's intimidation ability by up to 75% in favorable conditions.

 

[Bahnz]

The 'tache needs a lot more work before it's likely to have any kind of intimidatory effect. Right now he looks like a 15 year old trying to be Merv Hughes.

 

[hendrix]

I think a few things worked well:

He's not the spearhead. Harris and Siddle are clearly the senior bowlers and were very tight. This is quite critical, as it meant that Harris and Siddle had more pressure on them to take the key wickets - most importantly in the case of Johnson, we're talking about Alistair Cook. Johnson is never, ever going to be consistent enough to trouble a batsman like Cook, but he didn't have to be, and he wasn't expected to be. Harris got him beautifully in the first innings. Along these lines, Lyon has developed and more importantly, the selectors and captain are finally showing confidence in him. He was tight. This meant that Johnson had complete freedom to just bowl fast and intimidatingly. Basically, Johnson needs a good, consistent test quality attack to be a threat. He had that in this test.

 

[NUFAN]

Often maligned, Mitch Johnson has a better career average than often praised Jimmy Anderson now. It isn't a small sample either. I'm aware of Anderson's poor start but still I do find it quite funny.

It is hard to say what legacy Mitch will leave because it is a series by series, or even match by match proposition for him. If Johnson did an Anderson (2-140 and 2* & 2) there would be so many furious supporters complaining about him, but as someone pointed out in a different thread, he is just the 3rd Aussie to score 100+ runs and take 9+ wickets in a Test. Johnson's best with bat and ball is sublime, his worst is village.

 

[adub]

And that's always been my beef with the ****. In the past brilliant performances such as this would be used to excuse a mountain of dross. He's inked his name in for the series now and possibly even beyond. That will be ok if he delivers. Not even Brisbane like destruction, just good solid contributions. But if he turns in Bad Mitch performances and it costs us then how long is it going to take before he's given the arse with all his boosters saying another Brisbane is just around the corner?

FFS Mitch be good will ya?

 

[Ruckus]

I think the point about him now having a consistent attack to support him will be the one to watch. Maybe if guys like Harris etc. are continually taking wickets at the other end he won't feel such pressure to be in the spotlight all the time and it could free up his bowling. Only time will tell though, but the Adelaide test should be a much more reliable indication of where he is really at I think.

 

[adub]

It is certainly going to be fascinating. Will the pitch offer anything at all to the bowlers? Will Trott still be running scared on a flatter deck? Will Johnson's shorter stuff, so effective in Brisbane, just be money for jam on a lower bouncing drop in?

I reckon the Poms will have no option than to go after Johnson hard. They can't afford to go to Perth with him still on top. The Ashes could be over before Christmas if they don't get at him. They'll be too wary of Harris to try anything much, and Siddle and Lyon are steady so even if you got at them for a while you'd expect them to keep it reasonably together. If they go after Johnson it could backfire spectacularly, but they could also get him to unravel and springboard off that to a win whilst also putting a lot of miles in Harris and Siddle's legs before Perth. The Mitchell Johnson lottery.

Frothing for it. Wish it started tomorrow.

 

[hendrix]

I
I reckon the Poms will have no option than to go after Johnson hard. They can't afford to go to Perth with him still on top. The Ashes could be over before Christmas if they don't get at him.

I think they're better off doing what they've been doing throughout the period that they've been good: play their own game. Which for most of the English batsmen barring KP and Prior is putting away the risk and outlasting an opponent.

What was horrible about Trott's second innings dismissal is that we all know that's not his natural game. As soon as he started going after Johnson it was only going to end one way. It's completely different for KP who's natural game is to score off the bowling. He played a poor shot, but at least it wasn't indicative of someone who had so little faith in their own game that they completely changed the way they play.

 

[Daemon]

What was horrible about Trott's second innings dismissal is that we all know that's not his natural game. As soon as he started going after Johnson it was only going to end one way. It's completely different for KP who's natural game is to score off the bowling. He played a poor shot, but at least it wasn't indicative of someone who had so little faith in their own game that they completely changed the way they play.

How else do you improve and stop making the same mistakes over and over again?

 

[hendrix]

How else do you improve and stop making the same mistakes over and over again?

You don't try to change the way you play in the middle of a test match. his pull and hook shot are barely better than club level. If he wants to work on it, fine. Don't try it out in the middle of a test though.

 

[Migara]

What legacy with MJ leave when he finishes? And has there ever been a player with a bigger discrepancy between his best and worst?

Ladies and Gentlemen, I introduce you Shoaib Akthar

 

[Son Of Coco]

The ability of good Mitch has never been in question, it's how often he turns up that is the issue. The Gabba test result was sensational, and Mitch had a massive part in it, but it still doesn't mean we can carry him through 4 poor tests if he reverts to type. Basically, whether or not he's changed has no basis in what happened it Brisbane, it's whether he manages to be more consistent when he's not getting the bounce and pace in the wicket he needs to bowl short all the time. If he can simply be average on his off days then that would be a huge improvement.

 

[TNT]

And finally, he should keep that 'stache. For the series. It's working for him. It's well known that a moustache increases a man's intimidation ability by up to 75% in favorable conditions.

To keep his stache for the whole series $50,000 needs to be raised.
Donations can be made here Movember Australia - Home

After his man-of-the-match performance in the opening Commonwealth Bank Ashes Test, speedster Mitchell Johnson has promised to keep his lucky mo for the duration of the series if he can raise enough money for Movember. mitchell johnson raising funds for movember

 

[Jono]

The ability of good Mitch has never been in question, it's how often he turns up that is the issue. The Gabba test result was sensational, and Mitch had a massive part in it, but it still doesn't mean we can carry him through 4 poor tests if he reverts to type. Basically, whether or not he's changed has no basis in what happened it Brisbane, it's whether he manages to be more consistent when he's not getting the bounce and pace in the wicket he needs to bowl short all the time. If he can simply be average on his off days then that would be a huge improvement.

Well Australia lost 3-0 without him in England, maybe they need to carry poor Mitch to ensure they get good Mitch?

Not necessarily my view, just playing devil's advocate.

 

[benchmark00]