Australia's Mitchell Johnson says fourth Test against England 'is like a final'
Tuesday 4 August 2015 16:48, UK
Mitchell Johnson says Australia will approach Thursday’s fourth Test against England at Trent Bridge in the same manner as they would a ‘grand final.’
The tourists are 2-1 down in the five-match series, following last week’s defeat at Edgbaston, and they know another loss in Nottingham would hand the Ashes back to England.
Even a draw would prevent the Aussies from winning the series and Johnson said: “It’s like a grand final for us. We really need to win this game.
“We have just got to focus on what we have been doing when we have been playing well. We have been training really well, that has been a real positive for us. When we are bubbly like that then normally we come out and play our best cricket.
“We have to take it one day at a time, one innings at a time and try and build those partnerships like we did at Lord’s.”
The Ashes - Live
The 33-year-old, who plays his 70th Test this week, admits he has started to enjoy the banter and barracking handed out to him by England’s Barmy Army and he treats it all as 'a compliment.'
"When the whole crowd is cheering my name at the end of a game, when they (England) have just won, you have to take that as a compliment," he said.
“Where I did stop in my run-up at Edgbaston was deliberate to try and have a bit of fun with the crowd.
"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.
"When you're walking with your family in the street, I think it's a bit overboard. But on the field, I think that's fair game. I'm all for it and I get amongst it a bit more now."
Watch the fourth Ashes Test from Trent Bridge from Thursday August 6 live on Sky Sports Ashes HD. You can also watch the fourth Test with a NOW TV Sports Day Pass. Plus, our Ashes Events Centre - the best of Sky Cricket's analysis at your fingertips - is available on our iPad app.
