KP v Johnson MCG showdown revisited

Kevin Pietersen has revived memories of his famous Boxing Day stoush with Mitchell Johnson, admitting to intentional delaying tactics in a bid to throw Australia's pace spearhead of his game.

On the third day of the 2013-14 Ashes fourth Test, with the wind howling around the MCG and England leading by 220 in their second innings, Pietersen decided to push his luck against a rampant Johnson.

"In Melbourne I really tried hard to get under him, I went at him," Pietersen told the BBC's 5 Live radio programme.

"He was a superstar all series … but there was a little kid walking across the sight screen. I knew the kid was there but I let him run in halfway and I pulled out.

"I knew that would make him cross, and then I did it again. And there was a ball that was coming across."

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Johnson lets fly with the ball after being forced to abort his delivery stride // Getty

That "ball coming across" was Johnson's throw wide of the batsman at the climax of his aborted delivery stride. It was never meant to go near Pietersen, but it was meant to express the bowler's displeasure.

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Their exchange is now part of Ashes folklore. Johnson beseeching the batsman just how wide would you like the massive sightscreen in the Great Southern Stand? Pietersen standing his ground in Johnson's way as the bowler returned to his mark.

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How wide, KP? Johnson gestures to the prevaricating batsman // Getty

Undoubtedly, it was great theatre. What it didn't do, however, was rattle Johnson.

"I knew what I was doing," Pietersen continued. "But to Mitchell Johnson's credit, he didn’t give away as much as he used to give away.

"He went and he broke and he bit for a little while, maybe 30 seconds, and then he stopped."

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Out of my way: Johnson is obstructed by KP // Getty Images

It was a futile attempt from Pietersen to gain an upper hand in a series England had already lost. Pietersen recounted the tale of his first run-in with Johnson, at the Gabba, where he first realised England "were in for some rough times".

"I mean, geez, he was bowling the speed of light," said Pietersen. "I pulled him for four and I pulled another one to deep square leg and I walked past him and said, 'Buddy, it's you or me. And you care more about being whacked around the ground than I do of getting out'.

"And he just looked at me, normally he'd bite, normally he'd go at me. But he just walked off. And I knew there and then we were in for some rough times over the next month or so.

"Psychologically and mentally he had got himself into such a good place that he didn't need to say anything."

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