Ashes 2017: Josh Hazlewood feels grateful to pick the brains of Mitchell Johnson ahead of Perth Test

Australia-England players prepare for the final bow at the iconic WACA Stadium in Perth.

Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood  | Getty Images

Former Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson, tormented England in their last outing in 2013-14 Ashes in which they faced a humiliating 0-5 defeat at the hands of the Australian side.  

On Tuesday, Mitchell Johnson joined the Australian squad at the iconic WACA Stadium in Perth, where Steve Smith-led Australian side is preparing for the final bow before going into the third Ashes Test against England on 14 December, to share his experience with the youngsters.

 Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood feels grateful for the opportunity to pick the brains of Johnson ahead of the third Ashes Test against England.

As per Sport Star Live, Josh Hazlewood told reporters in Perth, “Bowl fast and keep bowling short. The pretty simple method from Johnno. You're in the bubble the whole time. As soon as we got to Brisbane it was all cricket, all business. You do feel in that bubble, it takes some people from the outside to see things you're not necessarily looking for. Johnno was good to talk to, not just bowling but the mental side of it. He mentioned he saw a few things similar to 2013-14, those guys are always good to talk to about past experiences.”

During the Adelaide Oval Test, Hazlewood dismissed England skipper Joe Root for 67 early, and this time also he is eying the right-hander’s crucial wicket in the Perth Test. He further added, “All the bowlers want that wicket and there's obviously a couple of key ones which we've talked about. Joe is the key, he can hold the innings together and score runs pretty freely when he gets some poor bowling his way, so everyone has to be ready when he comes in and stop that quick 20 or 30 runs early.”

He concluded by saying, “It's obviously a little bit more important, the time of that start of that fifth day when things could have gone either way, so you're a bit more focused, not as much room for error against those better players. [You have] got to be on your game from ball one and he's obviously going to punish anything that's not your best ball. Still, the key to him is bowling your best ball more often than not and hopefully keep the runs to a minimum and keep taking his wicket.”

 
 

By Rashmi Nanda - 13 Dec, 2017

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