Published: Feb 14, 2014, 05:40 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 14, 2014, 05:41 PM (IST)
South Africa coach Russell Domingo admits that his team was rattled by Australia pacer Mitchell Johnson in the first Test at centurion. The coach added that Johnson skiddy action made it hard for his bowlers.
Johnson was named man of the series, taking 37 wickets at an average of 13.97 as Australia regained the Ashes.
“I started a bit better here,” he said. “To come out and get three quick wickets was definitely a great start for me personally but the game has been set up by the way the boys batted earlier on.”
Johnson said he noticed that South African bowlers Morne Morkel and Ryan McLaren got extra bounce when they bowled around the wicket — a similar angle to him bowling left-arm over the wicket. “I just wanted to utilise that. I didn’t think the ball was swinging, so my plan was just to bang the wicket hard and it came off.”
He said he believed he was a better bowler than when he played against South Africa five years ago when he twice broke bones in Graeme Smith’s hand.
Johnson’s first ball to Smith was short and there was a half-hearted appeal as it thudded off the batsman’s thigh pad to short leg.
