Pietersen ready for 'big allrounder' Johnson

The Ashes have not yet begun but the duel between England's best batsman and Australia's fastest bowler already has. Kevin Pietersen said he would welcome the short-pitched tactics proposed by Mitchell Johnson during the week, and added that Australia's "big allrounder" could struggle in English conditions.

Johnson previously sought to apply the blowtorch to Pietersen by stating: "Is he vulnerable? I think there's definitely going to be a lot of pressure on him, so we'll look to get him as cheaply as you can."

Typically, Pietersen brought his on-field swagger with him when replying to Johnson's statements. "It's going to be difficult for him, tough for him," Pietersen said. "There's obviously all the pressure on his shoulders now, he's Australia's best player, Australia's big allrounder. We'll wait and see how that tag goes down with him.

"I played against him in India, South Africa and Melbourne. He's improved a lot, and he's a good cricketer. But bowling on wickets in Australia and South Africa is a totally different story to bowling on wickets here in England. There are a few bowlers out there who know that the faster you bowl in England the further you go."

Johnson, who broke Graeme Smith's hand twice in recent series against South Africa, said he noticed how batsmen struggled against deliveries angled into the body. "We always talk about it, getting a nice one at the top of the badge. It's uncomfortable to get one in the ribs. That's something we'll think about nearer the time, depending on conditions."

Pietersen shrugged this off, saying he preferred a short-ball approach from Johnson. "Left-armers talking about bowling into your ribs is quite nice. It's when they start swinging it into your stumps it becomes a bit of a problem," he said. "There are plenty areas you can score, you can work it through midwicket, square leg, or fine leg, and on English wickets you can stand back and hook and pull from leg.

"So when bowlers start talking about the aggression side of things, which I don't believe is strictly true, it's just the Aussie way of talking. It's when you starting talking of swinging and seaming and going for the stumps, that's a bit more threatening."