The first step towards addressing a problem is admitting you actually have one. England, though, appear to be in denial about the psychological hold Mitchell Johnson has over them right now.
Eoin Morgan, England’s one-day captain, certainly was not in the mood to admit anything about the effect Australia’s fast bowler has on his team, the Irishman playing down Johnson’s impact during the 112-run defeat in this Tri-Series final.
At one stage the Queenslander found himself on a hat-trick having taken three wickets in 10 balls.
It was a spell which fatally undermined England’s pursuit of 279 in Perth. It was also a throwback to last winter’s traumatic Ashes whitewash, when a revitalised Johnson took 37 English wickets.
Glenn Maxwell, the Australia all-rounder who struck 95 before taking four for 46 with the ball to earn the man of the match award, certainly did not concur with Morgan’s denial of the paralysis Johnson causes in the minds of England’s batsmen. “They should be worried,” said Maxwell. “He had three for 11 at one stage and tore through their top order. They may not be worried at all but if they’re getting skittled by him they probably should be.”
England will face Johnson and Australia again in Melbourne on Saturday week, when they open their World Cup campaign at the MCG. However, Morgan, bowled for a duck by Johnson a ball after he had snared Moeen Ali with a bouncer, does not think the bowler alone was the reason for this latest defeat. “Absolutely not,” he said. “I don’t think he swung it. We put ourselves under pressure. I don’t know why we performed like this today.
“I think our biggest worry was the pitch. But Johnson didn’t take the front in our meeting. I don’t think we were threatened that much. I think we were poor. I think it probably could have been anybody bowling. We had a really bad day. That’s the best way to describe it. We [also] lost [to Australia] in Hobart – he didn’t play.”
England have now lost eight of their past nine one-day internationals against Australia, including matches in Sydney and Hobart during this Tri-Series. It is an ominous sign before the opening match of the World Cup.
“Getting over the line against Australia has been difficult recently,” said Morgan. “We haven’t performed well enough to beat them. If we perform to anywhere near our capability we will beat Australia, I’ve no doubt about that. We still haven’t seen our best on this tour. That would worry me if we came here and were at our best, we’d struggle to maintain it.” Morgan also insisted the spotlight was on Australia before the match at the MCG on Valentine’s Day. “I think the pressure builds on Australia,” he said. “They’re the home side at a World Cup playing against a dangerous side. We’re going out all guns blazing. There’s no pressure from our point of view.”
Despite the final defeat England can take some encouragement from this series, having equipped themselves well in the two wins against India who, remember, are still second in the one-day international world rankings.
The form at the top of the order of Ian Bell, who has scored 247 runs at 61.75 in this series, and the improvement of Steven Finn, with 11 wickets at 21.36, are both reasons to be cheerful. “It’s not all doom and gloom,” said Morgan. “In order to get to this final we’ve had to play some really good cricket.”
Unfortunately for England, it has not been against Australia.
