Cricket: Supersub Johnston comes off long run-up

Brendon McCullum

You've got to give it to the Aussies - they really know how to talk up a good game.

Take replacement fast-bowler Mitchell Johnston as an example.

Named as Australia's Supersub for today's third Chappell-Hadlee one-dayer, Johnston has never really lived up to his perceived potential, not to mention Dennis Lillee's prophecy of being "a once in a generation" pace bowler.

But that hasn't stopped him delivering a threatening opening spell on the eve of the day-nighter at Jade Stadium, suggesting he saw his job as being that of an intimidator; someone who could make the opposition batsmen run for cover.

"There's times when you bowl really well and they just can't hit you," Johnson said yesterday.

"If you get hit you get hit. But there's more times when you are going to get wickets and hopefully scare batsmen."

Brought into the squad after Brett Lee was forced out with a breathing problem, the 24-year-old Queensland left-armer will at least provide a similar mental approach to Lee, even if his raw pace is a wee slower.

Johnston played for Queensland against the 2000-01 New Zealanders without making much of an impact.

A product of Townsville, his 12 interstate one-day matches have realised 17 wickets at 34.11, while a dozen first-class matches have brought him 29 wickets at the hardly inspiring average of 37.37.

However, with Glenn McGrath rested, Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowizc axed, and Brett Lee, Shane Watson and Shaun Tait unavailable, the Australian selectors have clearly opted to have a closer look at the Bulls' paceman.

Selection chief Trevor Hohns said Johnson was selected mainly for his potential rather than current form.

"Mitchell Johnson is a young player that we've had our eye on for a while," he said. "We felt this was an ideal opportunity - with one game to go in the series - to get him involved.

"It's certainly a selection with a view to the future."

It was also, by all accounts, a selection bombshell for Australian cricket fans.

Johnston might have been brimming with raw pace when spotted by Lillee as a 17-year-old, but his subsequent years brought several debilitating back injuries, the loss of his Queensland contract, and a year spent delivering plumbing supplies as a day job.

He was finally able to string some appearances together midway through last summer, playing the last half of the season for Queensland and every game this summer, until he received a tap on the shoulder on Wednesday.

"I didn't know what was going to be happening," Johnston said of his future. "Just to be playing is mindblowing; I didn't know what to expect coming here.

"It's still a big shock for me at the moment."

If Johnston does bowl, which seems likely given both teams prefer New Zealand to bat second, he'll team up with fellow left-arm paceman Nathan Bracken in an unfamiliar looking attack, including newcomers Stuart Clark and Mick Lewis.

The prospect is unlikely to be relished by the New Zealand batsman, who have historically struggled against the likes of Bruce Reid, Allan Mullally and Wasim Akram, not to mention India's Ashish Nehra.

"I'd say I have a little bit of pace, probably not quite as quick as Brett, and that I swing the new ball and try to reverse the old one.

"Hopefully I can do the same as Bracken does later in the innings, when he comes around the wicket and tails it in."