23 Dec 2010

Mitchell caught England 'by surprise' in Perth

6:02 am on 23 December 2010

The outspoken England cricketer Kevin Pietersen says Australia's Mitchell Johnson caught the tourists by surprise in Perth but it won't happen again.

Dropped for the second Test and recalled for last week's third Ashes Test in Perth, Johnson took 6-38 and 3-44 to guide Australia to a 267-run win to level the five-match series at one-all.

Pietersen is confident pace bowler Jimmy Anderson would be fit to take his place in the England side despite picking up a side injury.

Tim Bresnan or Ajmal Shahzad would come into the England side for their Ashes debut if Anderson was ruled out.

England can retain the urn with victory in the fourth test Melbourne or the fifth Test in Sydney.