Tuesday 24 November 2015

Cricket:Mitchell Johnson rejected retirement U-turn pleas, says Darren Lehmann

Australia paceman Mitchell Johnson played in 73 Tests
Mitchell Johnson was urged to reverse his decision to give up playing cricket but stuck to his guns, Australian coach Darren Lehmann has revealed.

Lehmann was speaking ahead of this week's showdown with New Zealand in Adelaide, the first day-night Test match using a pink Kookaburra ball.

Fast bowler Johnson retired from all forms of international cricket earlier in November as Australia's fourth highest Test wicket-taker behind Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Dennis Lillee.

Lehmann said he and skipper Steve Smith were well aware of Australia's inexperienced pace stocks and were desperate for the 34-year-old to reconsider.

"His mind was made up as soon as he spoke to Steven and myself," Lehmann said.

"He'd been thinking about it for a while, been talking about it in the media. We spoke to him about maybe playing the one-dayers, we think that was a really good option for us to have that experience there.

"But he's not into it. He's not into the training anymore. He's had enough and he just wants to sit at home and watch us play."

In announcing his retirement after the second Test in Perth, Johnson said he had been contemplating the decision for around 12 months.

His exit has resulted in a major shake-up of Australia's pace attack ahead of the historic day-night third Test which starts on Friday.

Mitchell Starc is the only quick guaranteed a spot in the team with Josh Hazlewood, Peter Siddle and James Pattinson in the mix to partner him.

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