Johnson doesn’t scare me, insists England’s Ballance

England's Gary Ballance bats against Australia. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)

Ballance was given a baptism of fire when he made his Test debut in the final Ashes Test against a rampant Johnson earlier this month.

The Australia left-armer finished the series with 37 wickets and was promptly handed a 10-day break to refresh himself for the end of England’s troubled tour.

Johnson - who has shaved off his handlebar moustache during his time away - has vowed to resume his short-pitched assault at the Gabba on Friday.

But after seeing first hand what Johnson is capable of, Ballance - who has hit half-centuries in his past two innings - not only believes he can fight fire with fire, but indicated he has faced quicker bowlers in county cricket.

“He bowls at a decent pace but I felt like I could handle it all right,” he said.

Asked if he was the quickest bowler he had faced, the left-hander added: “There are a few quick bowlers around; (Tymal) Mills from Essex is quick.

“He’s got good pace. We are going to work on it (handling Johnson’s speed).”

While Johnson’s threat is obvious, Ballance is wary of worrying too much about one man, after Australia’s seam attack proved their quality at the MCG.

Clint McKay is Australia’s reigning ODI player of the year while Nathan Coulter-Nile and James Pattinson are not far behind Johnson on the speed gun.

“They have a good bowling attack and we have to be ready to face all of them,” Ballance said.

“He’s had a good Test series but we are ready to face him and the rest of their bowlers.”

While Ballance knows what to expects from Johnson, England’s middle order will front him for the first time this winter.

Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara and Jos Buttler - the key to England’s game-plan to accelerate in the late overs - were all not involved in the Ashes.

Ballance is confident they will be able to handle anything Johnson, or Australia’s attack, muster on a Gabba pitch suited to the quicks.

“I think most of the guys have faced him, back home in the one-day series then in the Test series,” he said.

“Everyone will expect what’s coming.”