Mitchell Johnson looking to bring more ‘intimidation factor’ to Australia v England one-dayers

Mitchell Johnson skipped the first ODI, taking a post-Ashes break, but intends to return on Friday with the same intensity he displayed in the Australia whitewash.

Mitchell Johnson was man of the series dring the Australia Ashes whitewash. Ryan Pierse / Getty Images

Mitchell Johnson destroyed England in the Ashes and is promising the same level of intimidation when he returns to Australia’s one-day side on Friday.

The 150-kilometre (94 mile) per hour speedster was given time off after his heroics in the 5-0 demolition of England and missed Australia’s opening ODI win in Melbourne on Sunday.

Now he says he’s ready to go again.

“I mentally needed that break,” Mitchell told reporters before the second ODI at the Gabba where he broke England in the first Ashes Test back in November.

“I don’t think it will break my momentum at all... I’m looking forward to getting back to one-day cricket.

“You can still use your short-pitch ball and be aggressive” in the 50-over format, said the Queensland-born left-armer.

“I really enjoy bowling with the white ball. I think it swings a lot more and I think you can still be as intimidating with the white ball.

“It definitely makes a difference being a bowler that can bowl at the 150 mark... it definitely helps with the intimidation factor.”

Johnson’s glare at opposing batsmen might, however, have lost some of its terror now his long black moustache has been shaved off.

“I do feel bare without it,” he admitted after his wife shaved it off in public on Tuesday, after Johnson raised thousands of dollars for charity by growing it.

“It definitely was intimidating at times I’m sure,” Johnson added.

“You look at past fast bowlers like Dennis Lillee and Merv Hughes, it definitely makes a bit of a statement.

“For South Africa, it’ll definitely be there,” he added of the moustache for Australia’s February tour.

Before that, Australia’s 50-over side face England in Brisbane on Friday and in Sydney on Sunday. They play again in Perth on January 24, and two days later in Adelaide.

England enjoyed a morale-boosting first tour victory over the Australian Prime Minister’s XI in Canberra on Tuesday.