Johnson views English sledging as 'compliment' on good performance

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has said that he views the sledging from the English fans as a 'compliment' as he believes that it means that he is performing well.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the left-arm bowler has copped plenty of flak from fans when playing in England and also drew jeers from the crowd as he bowled an expensive opening over in Australia's Twenty20 win over England in Southampton on Thursday.

The report further said that fans have taken to making Johnson the butt of their jokes since his forgettable 2009 tour of England, although Johnson believes that the treatment that he received from the fans at the Rose Bowl is tame as compared to what he had to face in the past.

Although he admitted that he does not enjoy being on the receiving end of jeers every time he plays in England, Johnson however, said that he believes that he would not have got so much sledging if he had not been performing well, adding that he just enjoys and plays his game given that such things are a part of cricket.

Johnson further said that the England fans, especially the Barmy Army, are aware that he can ball the quicker ball and rip through sides.

Australia will warm up for the one-day series with a 50-over match in Tuesday against Scotland, which suffered a blow ahead of the match with captain Kyle Coetzer ruled out due to a wrist injury, the report added.