The Perth Scorchers on Tuesday announced that former Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson will play for them in the upcoming season of the Big Bash League.The 34-year-old had long been hinting about returning to Australian domestic cricket and the Scorchers seized the opportunity to rope him in.
Johnson said he has now got a chance to target former Scorcher Brad Hogg who has signed up for the Melbourne Renegades."Hoggy always used to text me before we played in the IPL to remind me to bowl at the stumps … We will just have to see about that," Johnson was quoted as saying by Seven West Media.
Johnson never had the chance of concentrating on the Big Bash League as most of the times he was away on international duty. But now that his time with the Australian team has ended he wants to mentor the young squad at Perth which includes the likes Joel Paris and Jason Behrendorff. "I'll hopefully be able to guide these young guys in the right direction," Johnson said.
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"I want to be a mentor and bowl alongside these guys. I want to be involved in the coaching side of things which has become a bit more of a focus for me. I also want to enjoy it and have some fun.”
The left-arm fast bowler who terrorized batsmen for years also said he would have the same strategy bowling in the BBL."I am a fast bowler and I still get the greatest thrill from bowling fast," Johnson said.
"I have always loved fast bowling and want to keep going. And that is still the best way to bowl at the WACA Ground so I am pretty sure that will be my role. Four overs will do me. There is not such a focus on recovery and ice baths and meetings and I might be able to just bowl fast and have some fun." In domestic T20s Johnson has picked up 94 wickets from 82 games. And from 30 T20 Internationals he has bagged 38 wickets at a strike rate of 17.2.
Meanwhile, in Sydney, the reigning BBL champions, The Thunder have kept three of their core players. Last season’s leading wicket-taker Clint McKay has penned a deal which will hook him to the club till BBL 07. Young off-spinner Chris Green and veteran batsman Aiden Blizzard have also signed one-year deals. "There's a great culture at the Thunder, on and off the field," said McKay.
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