If Johnson comes out firing, then I really fear for your boys

Glenn McGrath was England’s nemesis for years. Here, he tells Julian Bennetts how Aussie pace will be their undoing again

GL EN N Mc G R AT H is backing Mitchell Johnson to reopen old wounds and blow England’s top order away in the Ashes. The First Test starts in Cardiff on Wednesday and McGrath believes the series could be over if England fail to combat Johnson in that match or if either James Anderson or Stuart Broad do not make an early impact for the hosts at the SWALEC Stadium.

Johnson took 37 wickets at an average of 13.89 as Australia secured a 5-0 whitewash in the 2013-14 series Down Under, and McGrath thinks the left-armer still has a huge psychological advantage over England’s batsmen.

On Saturday came the news that a knee problem has forced seam bowler Ryan Harris to retire. Despite his loss, the Aussies still boast a fearsome bowling attack featuring Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood.

As the Aussies target a first series victory in England since 2001, McGrath remains convinced the hosts will struggle to cope with Johnson

saying: “In the last Ashes, Mitchell Johnson was amazing.

“With him, a lot depends on that First Test. If he comes out firing, with good pace, getting the England batsmen jumping around and bowling that aggressive line he did in Australia, then old wounds will open and the series could be over.

“Alternatively, the English line-up in Anderson and Broad need to come out firing straight away. If they don’t, then the series will slip away from them too.

“As for the Australian attack, Mitchell Starc had an incredible World Cup and if he can transform that into Test cricket he will be unstoppable. Josh Hazelwood bowls great areas, gets bounce and has had success already.

“Australia are playing very good cricket — and a positive brand of cricket. They are playing with confidence, while England’s confidence has been down. It has come back a little against New Zealand but a couple of good days for Australia could really knock them down.”

McGrath has warned Joe Root he will be targeted by Australia as they see him being the key to England’s batting line-up in a similar manner to the way the hosts have focused on Steve Smith.

“England are targeting Steve Smith — and rightly so, as they see him as a danger,” said McGrath. “He is a quality player, is ranked No1 in the world and is playing some incredible cricket.

“You try to target the opposition’s best batsman an d ge t them thinking about something other than what they normally do. “Australia should do the

same to Joe Root. He is key to the English line-up. If he bats No3 and Steve Smith bats No3, then it will be a great battle between two quality players. So Australia should target Root in the same way that England are targeting Smith.”

McGrath has also laughed off jibes that Australia’s team are too old to be successful, warning that they whitewashed England the last time they were accused of being past their best.

Former Australia bowler Jason Gillespie labelled the tourists ‘Dad’s Army’ last month, claiming players such as Michael Clarke, 34, Brad Haddin, 37, and 35-yearo l d Ad a m Vo ge s are ‘ol d blokes’ who can be put under pressure.

But McGrath says Australia have enough youthful energy in their side to have a successful series, saying: “The last time we were called Dad’s Army was in the 2006- 07 Ashes series and we won that 5 - 0. Th e r e are enough yo u n g p l ay er s c o mi n g through to keep the old boys on their toes and full of energy.”