Australia's Mitchell Johnson said on Tuesday the ongoing speculation about Captain Michael Clarke's fitness was not proving a distraction for the World Cup favourites. Clarke's hamstring injury meant he was sidelined as co-hosts Australia launched their bid for a fifth World Cup title with an emphatic 111-run thrashing of arch-rivals England in Melbourne on Saturday. Stand-in skipper George Bailey, long tipped to make way for Clarke, did his best to make life awkward for Australia's selectors by making a useful fifty against England. But fast bowler Johnson said he'd be delighted to see Clarke back in the side, although he did not know which player would make way for the star batsman.
“I love the captaincy that he (Clarke) brings,” Johnson said. “He has got so much experience and George does as well. “He is doing what he needs to do. He is not making it a distraction for us. Whenever that chance is when he gets back in we will be ready for him.” he said.
To scout Bangladesh
Sydney: Johnson does not consider the encounter against Bangladesh in Brisbane to be a cake-walk and says that he will be viewing video footage of how the Asian team plays in order to spot their strengths and weaknesses. “I don't like watching footage too much but there will be some footage to see of these guys (Bangladesh cricket team),” Johnson was quoted as saying by Cricket Australia. It has been four years since Australia last played Bangladesh in an ODI.