Mitchell Johnson tells England fans: Bring on the abuse, I love it

 
Pantomime villain: Johnson is enjoyed the cheers and jeers
CANTERBURY, ENGLAND - JUNE 28: Mitchell Johnson of Australia prepares to bowl during day four of the tour match between Kent and Australia at The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence on June 28, 2015 in Canterbury, England. (Photo by Julian Herbert/Getty Images)
Chris Stocks4 August 2015

Mitchell Johnson insists he is happy to embrace the role of pantomime villain with home crowds during the Ashes and, ahead of this week’s Fourth Test in Nottingham, has told England fans: “Bring it on”.

The 33-year-old Australian fast bowler has admitted the relentless chants and ridiculing from England’s followers affected him badly during previous Ashes series in 2009 and 2010-11.

Johnson was again the subject of the crowd’s focus during England’s eight-wicket defeat at Edgbaston, the old song from previous series about him bowling to the left and the right trotted out every time he came on to bowl or fielded the ball.

But the man who destroyed England during the Ashes winter of 2013-14 is happy to soak up the attention.

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“I get amongst it a bit more now,” said Johnson. “I definitely take it as a bit of a compliment.

“When the whole crowd is cheering my name at the end of a game when England have just won, you have to take that as a compliment.

“It’s a pretty special crowd, they were really loud there (at Edgbaston) and I expected that from past experiences, they really do get vocal and they really enjoy their cricket.

Getty

“A couple of our boys reminded me out there to get involved again because they wanted a bit more noise towards me.

“I definitely feel like I can take the brunt of it and I take the focus away from the other guys, and I’ve really embraced that role.”

Australia coach Darren Lehmann, whose team are 2-1 down in the series heading into the start of the fourth Test on Thursday at Trent Bridge, has praised Johnson’s handling of English crowds, describing it as “entertaining”.

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