Root challenges Johnson to `bring it on` in Adelaide Test

Johannesburg: England batsman Joe Root has challenged Australian paceman Mitchell Johnson to `bring it on` in the second Ashes Test in Adelaide.

The departure of Jonathan Trott with a stress-related illness leaves number six Root and number five Ian Bell as possible first-drop players for England in Adelaide, with uncapped pair Gary Ballance and all-rounder Ben Stokes also pushing for the vacancy in the top six. According to Sport24, despite scoring two in England`s 136 all out in their first innings in Brisbane, however, Root said that it was exciting to face Johnson`s thunderbolts at the Gabba Test, adding that he was putting faith in his ability to prepare as well as possible for another barrage from the left-arm speedster. Stating that Johnson`s 150 km/h offerings were almost some of the quickest he had encountered, Root also said that in order to get into confrontations like that, a player plays Test cricket and tries to be as successful as possible in such situations. The report mentioned that Johnson was the man of the match in Brisbane with nine match wickets for 103 and scores of 64 and 39 not out. Meanwhile, Root said that it does not matter to him in what position he gets to bat at Adelaide, adding that to just represent his country is a great chance and a good learning experience for him.