Oval Test could be Johnson’s last in UK
Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson hopes to make the fifth and final Ashes Test at The Oval this week a winning one, both for the team and for himself, as it may be his last match in England.
Johnson, a veteran of Ashes series in the UK, hinted ahead of the Test that while he won't be retiring after the Ashes, he might not be back for another tour. He has been rested for the ODI series.
Johnson said, with England leading 3-1, ahead of the fifth Test: "I guess from the whole team point of view we've under-achieved, we haven't performed throughout the series.
"We probably disappointed ourselves and people back home, but we've got one more game to go out there and really fight it out and that's what we need to do in this last one.
"It may be my final game in England. You never know. I just want to play good cricket and that's what I've said throughout this Ashes series.
"I'm not retiring after this. I will continue and we have a big summer coming up ahead."
Australia will want to avoid sending skipper Michael Clarke off into the sunset with a defeat to end his career. This Test will be Clarke's final match for Australia.
Johnson refused to get dragged into the debate some former players have started, saying Clarke had not valued the Baggy Green and the team legacy, with Johnson saying the Pup deserved respect.
He continued: "You have to respect the player and what Michael has done for his country.
"I've played a lot of cricket with him, seen him as a junior, and everyone who has worn the Baggy Green deserves a lot of respect.
"I'm not going to get into the debate, I just think everyone earns respect and he has earned it."
Latest
-
NewsNottinghamshire in control against Essex as 15 wickets fall at Trent Bridge
James Anderson removed Marnus Labuschagne cheaply.
-
NewsEngland could stage remaining IPL games in September as counties contact ECB
It is believed the matches could be wrapped up in little over a fortnight if a model of two games a day and three on weekends was adopted.
-
NewsOn This Day in 1988 – Worcestershire’s Graeme Hick scores 405 in single innings
Hick set a 20th-century County Championship record six years before Brian Lara broke it with his 501 not out for Warwickshire.
-
NewsJofra Archer shows flashes of top form on return from injury
Archer continued his return to action in a Second XI County Championship match at Hove.
-
NewsChris Jordan says suspending IPL ‘the right call’ as he awaits return to England
There has already been plenty of debate over whether the tournament should have continued as long as it did during a public health emergency.
-
NewsOn this day in 2011: Alastair Cook was named as England’s new ODI captain
Cook replaced Andrew Strauss, who retired from one-day cricket, while Broad took over from Paul Collingwood.
-
NewsFormer Australian Test cricketer victim of targeted kidnapping, police say
MacGill played 44 Tests for Australia and took 208 wickets.
-
NewsEngland contigent start to return home after IPL postponed due to coronavirus
The majority of England’s players at the tournament are expected to fly home imminently.
-
NewsEnglish contingent aiming to secure flights home with IPL postponed due to Covid
Positive cases in three of the eight franchises effectively proved that the players’ bio-secure bubbles were no longer able to stave off the threat.
-
NewsQ&A: What’s happened to this year’s IPL and what does it all mean?
There are 11 English representatives still involved.