HARRIS BACKS MITCH

RYAN Harris believes the Barmy Army has finally stopped laughing at Mitchell Johnson – and the joke is now on them.

Johnson was ferociously targeted and tormented by Barmy Army abuse in the 2009 Ashes, to the point where his self- esteem evaporated and he could hardly hit the pitch.

Six years on, Johnson was the menacing man who helped destroy the Poms at the home of cricket.

And Harris, who has returned to Australia after breaking down injured and retiring before the Ashes, believes Johnson has got the better of the Barmy Army.

“He copped a lot of it in Cardiff ( first Test) from the Barmy Army, they were on the fence five metres away from him yelling at him and trying to get to him,’’ Harris said.

‘‘ But he is dealing with it really well. It has got to the point where he is now just playing with them. A lot of it was personal last time ( in 2009).

‘‘ But now he has learnt to deal with it and have fun with it. Going back to England was a big test for him but he’s really enjoying the challenge.’’

Harris saved a farewell serve for the Poms for preparing dead and dour pitches for the first two Ashes Tests. He believes England have confused themselves by trying to prepare pitches to order.

‘‘ I find it funny the wickets haven’t been good,’’ he says. ‘‘ The Poms are costing themselves with their bowlers as they have got Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad who are two of the best bowlers almost in the history of English cricket.

‘‘ They are taking pace away from them and expecting them to bowl well. They are now not sure what to serve up with their pitches. They want to help their bowlers but they don’t want their batters to face our bowlers on lively wickets.’’

Harris, who had no option but to retire when his leg gave way in England, is looking forward to the simple pleasures of having a few beers with friends.

‘‘ I’m really going to enjoy not having to go to training,’’ he says. ‘‘ Training for me over the last two years was a little bit tedious and I had to do a lot of it.

‘‘ Everyone knows I enjoy y a beer and now I can have a fewew more and not have to worry about training the next day.’’’

New dad Harris feels conflicted over Australia’s decision to axe Brad Haddin.

He would like to have seeneen Haddin retained, after the veteran wicketkeeper missed the Lord’s Test because of personalnal reasons.

‘‘ But in saying that, you give someone else an opportunity,nity, and that is what Peter Nevillevill got and took,’’ he says.

‘‘ It was a tough decision on Brad but he would be the first one to say that he gave his spot up and someone else came e in and did a good ood

job.’’