Mitchell Johnson Advices Australia Ahead of Ind vs Aus Series

The intensity building toward the Ind vs Aus series is insane. Players, former players as well as fans, all are deeply involved and are waiting for the series. Nagpur is set to host the first match of the Ind vs Aus series. Both teams will miss some big names but that doesn’t bring down their morale. Amidst many former players criticizing the pitch in India, Mitchell Johnson has advice to Australia. 

The former left-arm pacer, Mitchell Johnson suggested that the best way visitors can aim to win the Ind vs Aus series is by batting first. In the last few years, it has been noticed that the games in India generally last 3 to 4 days on average. The turn that the pitch provides the bowlers makes it difficult for the batsmen to play especially on the 3rd-4th day of the game. Australia has a big task in hand to save their prestige by winning at least one game this year in the Ind vs Aus series.

Mitchell Johnson wants Aussies to bat first during the Ind vs Aus series

Writing for a column for The West Australia, Mitchell Johnson writes, “If the Aussies can bat first a couple of times early in the series, at venues which are expected to take a fair bit of spin, and get good first-innings totals on the board that will put a bit of pressure back onto India. The Aussies have taken over four spinners and while the Indians would respect Nathan Lyon’s experience and Test record, they wouldn’t be fearing any of them. Indian batsmen use their feet well and hit spin very correctly. Lyon with his ability to find extra bounce should like bowling in a Test in Nagpur for the first time.”

Furthermore, writing about the pitch for the Ind vs Aus Nagpur test, Mitchell Johnson noted that the pitch would be flat and there won’t be any swing. This will make it difficult for the pacers to create an impact early in the innings. With Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, both missing first Ind vs Aus game, Scott Boland and Lance Morris may get a chance in the playing XI. In the batting department, Australia will be highly dependent on Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith to counter the spin attack.