England arrive back from their training camp in Spain on Tuesday to the news that Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson, their tormentor in the last Ashes series, has laughed off any suggestions that this summer’s encounter could be played out in a friendly fashion.
The four-day trip to the Desert Springs golf resort in Almería – a first outing for them under new head coach Trevor Bayliss – has seen the 14-man squad undergo fitness and fielding drills on the hotel’s football pitches, group cycling trips and strategy meetings but has not included any net sessions for the batsmen.
This low-key affair has been well-received by the players, who have been able to step away – albeit briefly – from the ever-increasing war of words that leads into a modern Ashes series. Johnson, whose express left-arm pace claimed 37 wickets in the 2013-14 series, is the latest to offer his thoughts ahead of the first Test in Cardiff on 8 July, citing all-rounder Ben Stokes as the sole Englishman to show fight during the 5-0 whitewash in Australia 18 months ago.
Stokes, was one of the few positives for England from that doomed tour but has only this year nailed down his spot in the drawn series with West Indies and New Zealand. Those performances - including an 85-ball century at Lord’s last month - have caught the eye of Johnson, with the 33-year-old admitting the Durham all-rounder, with whom he enjoyed a running battle during the last Ashes, is the type of cricketer his side relish coming up against.
“We like someone who has got a bit of guts and determination,” said Johnson. “We spoke about Stokes throughout that series, that he was probably the only guy that really fought and it showed. He stirred up a few of the West Indians recently too. That is what I love about cricket, having a bit of fire in the game. That is what people want to see in Test cricket.”
The spirit in which Ashes cricket is played has become a talking point in the lead-up to the 2015 series, with the England fast bowler Jimmy Anderson admitting there is a will on England’s part to continue the feelgood spirit witnessed against the early summer tourists New Zealand. Johnson, however, scoffed at the suggestion.
“That is interesting coming from him because he is probably one of the biggest ones in the England team,” said Johnson, who admitted this summer could be his last Ashes series.
“I don’t think anything is going to change. I think he is just trying to get it out there to make himself look better.” Asked if England are a side who struggle against extreme pace, Johnson replied: “It seemed to trouble them in Australia. But they play well on their wickets and in their conditions.
“I’ve seen that Joe Root has been playing well. They have got some new guys up at the top and Alastair Cook has scored a few runs recently. They seem to be going all right at the moment.
“We have got some fast bowlers in our team, there is no doubt about that. Mitchell Starc can bowl at 150kph and swing the ball, and he is much improved in the Test format as well. We have got a lot of pace behind us but whether that is going to count in these conditions we don’t know yet.”
Among the more curious head-to-heads this summer could be England’s fast bowler Mark Wood and the Australia all-rounder Shane Watson.
Their only previous encounter came in the nets at Chester-le-Street during the 2009 Ashes tour. Wood, then 18, was instructed to bowl bouncers by Watson’s team-mate Mike Hussey, much to the annoyance of the all-rounder.
“[Watson] called me a ‘net hero’ and said he would like to have a go at me,” Wood told the BBC Radio 5 live in an interview broadcast on Monday night. “Well, he’s going to get his chance. Let’s hope he remembers me, because he’s going to get a few more bumpers.”
The incident was lost on Watson, however, even if the 34-year-old, who is vying with Mitchell Marsh for the No6 spot in Michael Clarke’s side, welcomes such pre-series bravado.
“[Wood] obviously seems like he has got a lot of confidence. He’s very sure about himself by coming out and talking about this sort of stuff,” said Watson.
“That is a great thing. It means he is going to be up for the challenge. He hasn’t been in an Ashes series before so he will be tested, as we all are.
“Obviously he is going to pepper me. First I need to score runs in this next tour match to be able to get the chance for him to have a go at me. But also, from my point of view, it is going to be interesting to see how he bats because we’ve got a couple of bowlers who bowl OK pace. So it will be interesting to see how he takes it on as well.”
Australia, meanwhile, have confirmed their third Test with New Zealand in Adelaide starting on 27 November will be played under floodlights with a pink ball in what will be the first day-night match in the history of Test cricket.
