Mitchell Johnson to play club cricket to regain form

SYDNEY - To regain his form ahead of the Ashes series, Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson will play first grade cricket for Western Australia side Wanneroo on Saturday before linking back up with the Warriors for their Sheffield Shield match.

Johnson has struggled to bowl at his best since returning from India last month, claiming just one wicket at a cost of 128 runs over the three one-dayers against Sri Lanka.

“I’m not getting the results I would probably like in the wicket column. But I don’t feel like I’m out of form. I guess you look at the last game against Sri Lanka on Sunday and I felt really good,” Johnson said on Thursday.

“I was speaking to Brad Haddin, we normally talk to each other about how things are going for each other, and he just said go out there and bowl fast, and that’s what I did and he said I looked really good,” The Sydney Morning Herald quoted him, as saying.

“I don’t feel like I’m out of form, I just feel a little bit off the mark. Hopefully I’ve got it right for the Ashes. The last time I played grade cricket, I was in Brisbane maybe four years ago,” he said.

“I remember it quite well. I was at our home ground. It was actually a nice, fast week so it was quite exciting for me. (I’m) looking forward to this weekend. Get a bit more bowling in before a big Ashes series,” Johnson added. (ANI)