Johnson weighs in on 'bunny safety' Law

Former Test quick Mitchell Johnson believes the onus is on England's tail to improve their batting to be able to safely negotiate Australia's short-ball barrage, as opposed to a stricter enforcement of a rarely-used Law regarding 'dangerous bowling'.

Johnson, who famously took 37 wickets in the 2013-14 Ashes in no small part due to an intimidating approach, was responding to former England captain, now journalist, Michael Atherton's suggestions that the umpires in the recently-concluded Perth Test failed to adequately protect the tourists' tail, in particular "rabbits" James Anderson and Jake Ball.

In making his argument, Atherton cited Law 41.6.1, which states: "The bowling of short-pitched deliveries is dangerous if the bowler's end umpire considers that, taking into consideration the skill of the striker, by their speed, length, height and direction, they are likely to inflict physical injury on him/her. The fact that the striker is wearing protective equipment shall be disregarded."

The Times correspondent went on to suggest that this Law had largely been ignored for three reasons: "Umpires think that Law 41.6.1 is designed with amateur or junior cricket in mind where the discrepancy in abilities can be so much wider"; "umpires consider helmets, arm guards, chest guards and the like, to be a green light for the bowlers"; and "the playing condition that allows for two bouncers an over seems to, in practice, have overridden the Law".

Johnson argued against Atherton's suggestion that more should be done to protect incompetent batsmen, however his sentiment did echo the Englishman's point that the 'two bouncer' rule had essentially made the 'dangerous bowling' Law obsolete at international level.

"I don't think it's a fair comment (from Atherton)," he told foxsports.com.au. "Isn't it two short balls in an over? That's the rules. If it's not over their heads or the shoulder restriction, how is it dangerous?"

The 73-Test veteran added that such sanitising of bowling was a slippery slope, with the general consensus already that modern-day cricket is very much a batsman's game.

"I'd be very disappointed if it got changed," he said. "Because wickets are flat in general, and the bowlers need some sort of assistance.

"If they take everything away from the bowlers we're just going to see bowling machines. I wouldn't go into a game and be told, 'well you can't bowl two bouncers now, it's one'.

"And if they change it to that, then what? You can't bowl above waist-height? How far do you go?"

Australia boast an unassailable three-nil lead in the five-Test series, which resumes on Boxing Day at the MCG. 

2017-18 International Fixtures

Magellan Ashes Series

Australia Test squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird.

England Test squad: Joe Root (c), James Anderson (vc), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Ben Foakes, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ben Stokes, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Chris Woakes.

First Test Australia won by 10 wickets. Scorecard

Second Test Australia won by 120 runs (Day-Night). Scorecard

Third Test Australia won by an innings and 41 runs. Scorecard

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Tickets

Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Tickets

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Tickets

Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21