Prefer bowling shorter spells: Johnson

Sydney, Jan 2 (IANS) Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson Friday reiterated his fondness for shorter bowling spells, saying he will speak to the team think-tank about his preference.

"I've been bowling longer spells. That's been at the back of my mind where I know I'm going to be bowling four, five, six-over spells that I can't be flat out every ball," Johnson was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald.

Johnson said shorter spells enable him to work up consistent fast pace, a feature that helped him become cricket's player of the year. 

"It has dropped off a little bit. We go out there day in and day out and we work really hard and to be able to bowl 150 kmph every game I'd be dreaming if I could do that," he said.

"But I'd like to be going back to bowling shorter spells again. Hopefully I can do that in this Test."

The left-armer said that the ploy worked to Australia's advantage earlier and he wanted it to be continued but was willing to do whatever the team demanded of him.

"I'll speak to captain Steve Smith and coach Darren Lehmann and see if we can go back to those three-over sharp spells because I think that worked really well for us in the past. But that's just me speaking. They might want me to bowl those longer spells again."