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Johnson flies to India for coaching

Mitchell Johnson will use a trip to India's pace foundation to prepare for Australia's seven-match one-day series in the country starting in September

Cricinfo staff
26-Jun-2007


Mitchell Johnson is keen to work on the skills he developed during training at the World Cup © Getty Images
Mitchell Johnson will use a trip to India's pace foundation to prepare for Australia's seven-match one-day series in the country starting in September. Dennis Lillee, a part-time coach at the facility in Chennai, and Troy Cooley, the Australian bowling mentor, will monitor Johnson's progress as he plans a return to the starting XI after not being called on during the World Cup or Ashes.
A bowling vacancy has been created by Glenn McGrath's retirement, but with Brett Lee recovering from an ankle problem Johnson must move ahead of Shaun Tait, Stuart Clark or Nathan Bracken to play. "Learning to bowl in those conditions is pretty timely with the matches coming up in India, which hopefully I will be involved in," Johnson, who left on Tuesday, told AAP.
"I did a lot of bowling at the World Cup in the nets and I am keen to develop the knowledge that I got there a bit further. It's obviously great to be working with 'DK' again and to have Troy there as well. The knowledge that will be at my fingertips will be exceptional."
Johnson will spend a week in Chennai and will be joined by the Queensland bowler Grant Sullivan and local fast men. "I have only just started gym work," he said. "I've had a fair break so this will be the first time I will be really getting into bowling again since the World Cup."