All the expectations of a high-scoring spectacle at the IPCL ground were busted as early as in the first over of the Indian innings. While the dismissals of Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid pegged India back considerably, Mitchell Johnson tightened the noose with a devastating spell that broke the back of Indian batting. The left-arm seamer returned his career best figures (5-28) to win the man of the match award. 

The 25-year-old was excited with his first five-wicket haul. “Very thrilled,” reacted the Queenslander. “First five-for and to do that in these conditions… I am very happy at this moment. I guess it doesn't get any better.”

Incidentally, Johnson's previous best too was against India in Kuala Lumpur (4-11) last year. Johnson rated Thursday's performance higher than the Malaysian effort. “I think it's a better performance here because the conditions aren't suited for the bowlers. In Kuala Lumpur the wicket had little bit in it. There was some pace. You can feel the heat, it's really very hot. I couldn't have been happier," he explained.

His skipper Ricky Ponting too showered copious praise. “He has done everything that he can possibly and has done everything right. He has worked exceptionally hard in the off-season and he is really fit at the moment. The time he has spent with Troy (Cooley) at the MRF Pace Foundation has done him a world of good. Performance has always been coming from him and the way he has progressed in the last couple of years, it will be very hard to keep him away from the Tests,” stated Ponting.  
 
No demons
Though the pitch didn't have as many demons as the Indian batsmen made it out to be, Johnson did manage to find some movement off the wicket. “It swung a bit for a while today. I just tried to hit on the off and move it away from left-handers and bring it back to the righties. Just keep it simple,” he pointed out.

Asked what chink he saw in the Indian batsmen Johnson said: “They (Indians) are not watching swing at the moment.”

MRF stint
The Australian mentioned his stint at the MRF Pace Foundation earlier this year helped him a great deal. “I was at the MRF during my off-season. The 10-day trip I think got me back into my cricket again. It was of great help really.”

Johnson, who has grown up looking up to Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath, refused look ahead and said he was just taking it game by game.

“I am not thinking about it at the moment. There are still a couple of games left in the series. I want to keep performing here. I don't want to start thinking too far ahead now and allow it to creep into my performance. I am really happy with how things are going at the moment for me,” he said.