Paceman hits back in style to silence critics

Johnson slogged an enterprising 62 in Australia's first innings 268 on Thursday after Pietersen had asked for his phone number.

He then delivered a sizzling inswinger to trap Pietersen leg before wicket for a duck during a searing six-wicket haul which swung the third Ashes Test back in Australia's favour on Friday.

“I was pretty happy to get his wicket today and there's not much more to say, I didn't give him my phone number that's for sure,” said Johnson, whose celebrations grew wilder with each wicket.

“I didn't think he was being friendly, no, I think he was being a bit of a smartass.”
Johnson's bowling, a mesmerising display of pace and swing that ripped through England's top order before cleaning up the tail, was also the ideal riposte to doubters who had questioned his selection on his home ground in Perth.

After being carted for 170 runs without a wicket in Brisbane, Johnson was dropped for the second Test in Adelaide. He toiled in the nets for two weeks with Australia's bowling coaches rather than head back to his state side to work his way back.

Johnson, 29, credited his coaches for working on his lower body strength and straightening his runup for the rediscovery of the devastating inswing that had eluded him for months.

Johnson scowled at English batsmen and exchanged heated words but otherwise kept his emotions in check while inspiring his fellow pacemen to their best bowling since the first innings of the first Test in Brisbane.

“I was fired up enough but I was more worried about where I wanted to put the ball and not really worry about who was at the other end but I enjoyed celebrating the wickets that I got today, that's for sure,” said Johnson.