"Want to see some fight from this Australian side" - Mitchell Johnson reacts to Yashasvi Jaiswal sledging Mitchell Starc in BGT 2024-25 1st Test
Former Australian speedster Mitchell Johnson has urged the hosts to show a bit more fight moving forward in the Test series against India after a dismal show at the Optus Stadium in Perth. The retired cricketer believes it's unacceptable for a debutant to sledge Mitchell Starc, and the Australians not be fired up about it.
Although Yashasvi Jaiswal perished to Starc on day one cheaply, the left-handed could easily milk the veteran fast bowler in the second innings. During his 161-run knock in Perth, Jaiswal sledged Starc, claiming he was bowling too slowly as the stump mic caught it.
Johnson wrote in his column for The West Australian:
"As an outsider watching on, I want to see some fight from this Australian side. Not a debutant and a young opening batsman from India getting in the faces of our team on our own turf and sledging Mitchell Starc saying he’s bowling too slow. Let’s see some energy and intent with bat and ball, but even more so in the field where it was clearly lacking at Optus Stadium."
Although Starc picked up two wickets in the first innings as Australia bowled India out for 150, he struggled in the second, managing only one scalp.
"Australia will need to put pressure on India early when the second Test gets underway" - Mitchell Johnson
Johnson warned that Australia must be on the ball from the outset in Adelaide else the 0-1 deficit will be quite hard to turn around.
The 43-year-old added in his column:
"The Border-Gavaskar series is far from over and it’s certainly not a time to panic. But Australia will need to put pressure on India early when the second Test gets underway at Adelaide Oval on Friday and keep it up or they could find the 1-0 deficit it hard to come back from. The Aussies were shown up in Perth and they will be feeling it as a team but have to move on quickly."
Australia have a flawless record in pink-ball Tests at the Adelaide Oval but face a litmus test to keep it going this summer.