(REUTERS)-Australia paceman Mitchell Johnson believes he is primed for a big tour of South Africa after his disappointing performances in Sri Lanka.
Johnson took just three wickets at an average of 52.17 on the three-match tour of Sri Lanka earlier this year, which put him under pressure to keep his place in the side.
“Obviously I didn’t get the wickets (in Sri Lanka). That’s what the selectors want to see – wickets and runs,” Johnson said.
“But for me I felt like I bowled pretty well and pretty consistently. My pace was up. So it’s just getting those wickets on board. If I bowled like I did in Sri Lanka in South Africa, I think I’m going to get wickets over there.”
He added: “As a bowling unit I think we bowled well as a group. That was the most exciting thing for me.
“There’s always been pressure to perform and there’s always guys there pushing the envelope to get the spot to be in the team.
But you try not to think about it too much and just go out there and try to perform the best you can, and hopefully that’s good enough.”
Johnson’s state coach – Western Australia’s Mickey Arthur – is also confident he will bounce back in a big way on the two-Test trip to South Africa.
“He really likes bowling in South Africa and he’s got a very good record there,” he said.
“He’s been training really well with us. Technically he looks in a really good place at the moment, so I’m expecting a big series from him.
“Mitchell is a proven match-winner and he’ll do it time and time again for Australia in the future.”