“The body now is fully recovered and ready to go”

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Australia left-arm pace bowler Mitchell Johnson has revealed that he is raring to make his ODI return after resting and recuperating for more than a month.

Johnson will represent Australia in their ODI tri-series final against England on February 1 in Perth.

“I needed a fair bit of a rest,” Johnson said. “I think it’d probably been a big 12 months personally, but for all the bowlers as well. The UAE was quite tough. We bowled a lot of overs there and then coming into Australia the wickets were a little bit flatter than we expected. There were a lot of runs scored through the Test series. The body now is fully recovered and ready to go.

“I’m feeling pretty good. I’m feeling rested. I don’t have any soreness there anymore, so I’m feeling pretty good. It’ll be nice to play on a nice fast, bouncy wicket again. I’m looking forward to getting out there…I know the South African series we played there, the wicket just got quicker and quicker. I’m really looking forward to playing on a nice wicket.”

While Johnson has been relaxing after a tiring four-Test series against India, Mitchell Starc has started to emerge as a leader during the tri-series as he has taken 12 wickets at a brilliant average of 13.

“He’s [Starc] been doing that for a while in the shorter forms,” Johnson said. “I’ve been really impressed with him. Earlier in the IPL he was doing it there and he’s just continued his form. He’s really comfortable with his bowling in one-day cricket. He swings the ball and bowls fast.

“I’m really looking forward to getting out there again and bowling and working with him. I think we bowl well together in the short form and hopefully we can bowl well together at the WACA. There’s actually three left-armers but two opening bowlers.

“It’s really exciting for me. You don’t often see it but it’s really nice to be able to work with him. He’s young, he’s aggressive and he loves bowling. I’m looking forward to that.”