SYDNEY: Fast bowler Mitchell Johnson says he is considering taking on the role of Australia’s Sledger-in-Chief for Thursday’s World Cup semi-final against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Outspoken opener David Warner has been on his best behaviour at the World Cup after getting into hot water over a series of spats with the Indian side during the test series over the New Year.

The fiery exchanges continued into the Tri-series and Warner was fined for asking India’s Rohit Sharma to “speak English” during a slanging match in a one-dayer at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in January.

“I heard Davy said he wasn’t going to get involved in all that stuff,” paceman Johnson told Fox TV on Tuesday.

“Someone’s got to do it and I might put my hand up. It’s part of the game and what happened the other day with Shane (Watson) and Wahab (Riaz) was exceptional.

“I thought it was great entertainment and I think you’re going to see more entertainment in this game.”

Watson had the last laugh on Pakistan paceman Wahab after their compelling duel in the quarter-finals last week when he helped steer Australia to victory. Both players were later fined.

Johnson has some history with India in the sledging stakes and made them pay for having the temerity to lampoon him after he went wicket-less in the first innings of the second test at the Gabba last December.

The 33-year-old slugged 88 off 93 balls to help rescue Australia’s first innings and then took three wickets in a dazzling spell of bowling and finished with figures of 4-61 as Australia won the match by four wickets.

“I love it. The more that comes my way, the better,” he said at the time.

As well as Warner, Indians Shikhar Dhawan, Ishant Sharma and Virat Kohli were fined for clashes during the test series.

Meanwhile, Australia coach Darren Lehmann believes the SCG pitch will produce a high-scoring semi-final against India.

AUSSIE pace spearhead Mitchell Johnson exercises at a training session.—AFP

“I think the Sydney pitch will be very similar to the one we used in the game against Sri Lanka more than a fortnight ago when almost 700 runs were scored, so I think this will be another high-scoring affair,” Lehmann wrote in a column on Cricket Australia’s website on Tuesday.

Australia won the March 8 pool game against Sri Lanka convincingly, setting a mammoth 376-9 for their opponents to chase before bowling them out in a 64-run victory.

Sri Lanka returned to the venue for the quarter-final against South Africa a week ago and were trounced by nine wickets after their batsmen were skittled for 133.

The SCG has traditionally offered something for spinners, but paceman Josh Hazlewood said the pitch served up for Australia’s match against Sri Lanka had offered little variation either way.

Australia will hope for a green tinge on the SCG wicket to give their pacemen as much help as possible against India’s formidable batting lineup.

India have drawn big crowds of blue-clad fans at every venue and can expect prominent support at the SCG.

Lehmann called on local fans to come out in force and be in full voice to ensure Australia’s players felt the support.

“Hopefully the SCG is packed with gold as all the Australian venues have been throughout our campaign, and we get a huge lift by seeing so many fans getting behind us.

“But from what I’ve seen at other games in this World Cup, I suspect there will be a very loud and proud Indian turn-out at Thursday’s game so I urge you all to bring your flags, wave them hard and often and provide some really visible and vocal home town support.

“Now it’s a matter of who plays well on the day. India are really starting to gain some confidence on the back of some good performances since the tournament began, and that fact that we know them inside out — just as they do us — adds an extra element to what already looms as an enthralling contest.”

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2015

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