Kohli will be an aggressive captain: Johnson
Mitchell Johnson has revealed that the Australians felt something was happening in the Indian team after the MCG Test concluded. The left-arm paceman was referring to M.S. Dhoni’s retirement from Tests.
“He (Dhoni) was standing out in the middle after the game. It was almost like he was waiting to have a conversation with someone. It was really weird,” said Johnson.
The pace spearhead added, “I’ve never seen him do that before. Normally he just goes. We just had a strange feeling something was going on.”
On his on-field spats with Virat Kohli, Johnson said, “It’s just harmless stuff that’s out there. Virat’s just been telling us how many runs he’s scored and we’ve just been saying we’re two-nil up in the series, so that’s pretty much it.
Interesting character
“He’s an interesting character, he really does like to get involved in it all,” Johnson said.
The Australian, however, said Kohli’s reactions to sledging could make him vulnerable too.
“But I think you can get him to a point where the emotions do come in… that’s where you do want to get him, I think and that’s where the mind games come in.”
Johnson elaborated, “We saw after I threw the ball at the stumps and he happened to be in the way, he didn’t really like that too much. No one does… but I apologised and I thought we’d moved on.”
The Aussie said, “He (Kohli) started to play a few loose shots after that so we knew he was losing his cool a little bit. We saw an opportunity there and we’ll see how he goes as captain now.”
Part of the game
Sledging would be a part of the game he said but cautioned against crossing the line, “Davey Warner got fired up with a bit of a send off [in Adelaide] and it got a bit too in-your-face sort of stuff. When there’s people touching each other and that, that’s crossing the line.”
Johnson said Kohli had reminded him during the field of play of the 4-0 drubbing the Aussies had suffered in India in 2013 “ I heard things like wait until we play you at home. Virat has mentioned that a couple of times. He’s mentioned his scores.”
On how Kohli would be as captain, Johnson said, “I think he'll be the same. I think that's how he likes to play and he wants his guys to play that way as well.”
The Aussie said, “So it could be quite interesting because they're (India) not known for that aggressive type of play but ever since I've seen him play cricket, I've always seen him pretty fiery.
So he'll definitely be an aggressive type of captain I think the way he sets fields and I think you’ll see a lot different to what MS (Dhoni) did.”
Very tough
On Australia returning to the venue where Phillips Hughes lost his life and the emotional impact it could have on the Australian cricketers, Johnson said, “The SCG is going to be difficult for a lot of guys, but for the guys who were out there (when Hughes was felled by a lifter) it’s going to be very tough, but everyone has handled it very well and in their own ways.
“It still brings a tear to the eye, so it's been emotional for everyone but I think everyone sticking together has been the best thing.”
Johnson also said he wanted to bowl in shorter bursts.
“He (Dhoni) was standing out in the middle after the game. It was almost like he was waiting to have a conversation with someone. It was really weird,” said Johnson.
The pace spearhead added, “I’ve never seen him do that before. Normally he just goes. We just had a strange feeling something was going on.”
On his on-field spats with Virat Kohli, Johnson said, “It’s just harmless stuff that’s out there. Virat’s just been telling us how many runs he’s scored and we’ve just been saying we’re two-nil up in the series, so that’s pretty much it.
Interesting character
“He’s an interesting character, he really does like to get involved in it all,” Johnson said.
The Australian, however, said Kohli’s reactions to sledging could make him vulnerable too.
“But I think you can get him to a point where the emotions do come in… that’s where you do want to get him, I think and that’s where the mind games come in.”
Johnson elaborated, “We saw after I threw the ball at the stumps and he happened to be in the way, he didn’t really like that too much. No one does… but I apologised and I thought we’d moved on.”
The Aussie said, “He (Kohli) started to play a few loose shots after that so we knew he was losing his cool a little bit. We saw an opportunity there and we’ll see how he goes as captain now.”
Part of the game
Sledging would be a part of the game he said but cautioned against crossing the line, “Davey Warner got fired up with a bit of a send off [in Adelaide] and it got a bit too in-your-face sort of stuff. When there’s people touching each other and that, that’s crossing the line.”
Johnson said Kohli had reminded him during the field of play of the 4-0 drubbing the Aussies had suffered in India in 2013 “ I heard things like wait until we play you at home. Virat has mentioned that a couple of times. He’s mentioned his scores.”
On how Kohli would be as captain, Johnson said, “I think he'll be the same. I think that's how he likes to play and he wants his guys to play that way as well.”
The Aussie said, “So it could be quite interesting because they're (India) not known for that aggressive type of play but ever since I've seen him play cricket, I've always seen him pretty fiery.
So he'll definitely be an aggressive type of captain I think the way he sets fields and I think you’ll see a lot different to what MS (Dhoni) did.”
Very tough
On Australia returning to the venue where Phillips Hughes lost his life and the emotional impact it could have on the Australian cricketers, Johnson said, “The SCG is going to be difficult for a lot of guys, but for the guys who were out there (when Hughes was felled by a lifter) it’s going to be very tough, but everyone has handled it very well and in their own ways.
“It still brings a tear to the eye, so it's been emotional for everyone but I think everyone sticking together has been the best thing.”
Johnson also said he wanted to bowl in shorter bursts.
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