Anderson’s sledging ‘fired me up’ in Perth Ashes Test: Johnson

PERTH - Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has credited his England counterpart James Anderson’s persistent sledging for inspiring his six-wicket haul that has revived the home team’s Ashes campaign.

Anderson sledged Johnson relentlessly throughout his innings of 62 on day one of the ongoing third Test at Perth’s WACA Ground.

“Jimmy [Anderson] tried giving me a bit of lip and that fired me up as well,” the Age quoted Johnson, as saying.

“That [sledging] was another thing that was spoken about before the series. We saw it last year in England with Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad and a few other guys. I think the crowd like to see a bit of fire if it is not over the line and it hasn’t been,” he added.

Johnson’s six for 38 undermined England’s ambitions of retaining the Ashes, as the visitors conceded a first-innings deficit of 81 runs.

The left-armer started the proceedings for the home side when he broke the opening stand by dismissing Alastair Cook (32).ohnson then accounted for Jonathan Trott (four), Kevin Pietersen (zero) and Paul Collingwood (five), who failed in front of supreme exhibition of late swing.

The fast bowler’s dream spell, four wickets for seven runs, turned the game on its head. (ANI)