Oz bowling coach backs 'pace spearhead' Johnson to strike fear in Proteas hearts

Australian Test bowling coach Craig McDermott has said that he believes pace spearhead Mitchell Johnson can strike fear into the hearts of South African batsmen as he is bowling better than anyone else in the world currently.

Johnson took 37 wickets at 13.97 in the five Tests of the summer, which is the best in a series in Australia and only two bowlers who have sent down 1000 or more balls in a series have done so with a better average - Jim Laker (9.6 in 1956) and Rodney Hogg (12.85 in 1978-79).

According to News.com.au, a connoisseur of fine fast bowling, the former Australian bowler said that Johnson's performance during the practice game in Johannesburg in the lead-up to the first Test showed that he bowled better than he did in the recent Ashes, especially with the late swing in South African pitches.

Stating that Johnson's bowling indicates better fortunes for the visitors, McDermott said that the bowling makes it difficult for right-handers who want to leave the ball and left-handers who think they are going to just clip it off their pads, adding that Johnson knows his game very well, and his accuracy is brilliant at the minute.

McDermott also said that Johnson has got his whole package together, adding that with a combination of Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle, the Australian pace battery becomes second to none.

McDermott also said that there are plenty of available options if a bowler is injured.