Published: May 18, 2016, 10:34 PM (IST)
Edited: May 18, 2016, 10:34 PM (IST)
Melbourne: Former Australian speedster Mitchell Johnson has revealed that South Africa‘s AB de Villiers was the toughest batsman he has ever had to bowl during his decorated career. “AB de Villiers was the guy who really stood out for me. Now some of these younger guys are coming up towards his standard. AB was a guy that was above everyone else for a long period; just how calm he was, he had all the shots,” Johnson was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au. While hailing the sensational rise of the current crop of batting talents such as Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson and Steve Smith in the past couple of years, the former pace merchant believes that the swashbuckling South African stood above the rest. IPL 2016: Mitchell Johnson still fired up after a fiery net session with Glenn Maxwell
Johnson had dismissed de Villiers five times in the Test format and three times in one-dayers since they first collided in December 2008. He is the fourth highest wicket-taker for Australia in Tests, claiming a staggering 313 wickets in 73 matches. Virat Kohli vs Mitchell Johnson: Origin of feud finally revealed
Two games into his comeback since retiring from international cricket last November, Mitchell Johnson was dropped by the Kings XI Punjab hierarchy, and has played only other match hence. As it turns out, it’s exactly what the Australian needed after a longer than expected return to his fire-breathing ways. “It took two weeks to get the real desire. I thought I had it, I felt really good with the ball in my hand, but I probably wasn’t quite there until two weeks into the tournament. “Some of the net sessions I’ve been bowling I’ve had guys not come into my net because I’ve been pretty fired up. I hit ‘Maxi, his Australian teammate, Glenn Maxwell, in the thumb in Hyderabad.
