Mitchell Johnson: No need to panic ahead of T20 World Cup because Australia always rise with the pressure

Australia’s T20 squad copped a reality check in Pakistan, losing the series 3–0 and immediately reopening familiar debates: can they handle quality spin, should Steve Smith be in the squad, and what do we make of Pat Cummins missing the World Cup but lining up in the Indian Premier League? Let’s start with Pakistan. Being whitewashed is never ideal, but context matters. Touring Pakistan is tough at the best of times, particularly in T20 cricket. For a number of players in this Australian group, it was their first experience there. The conditions are unique, the pitches are slow, low, and at times unpredictable, and the spinners showed exactly why they dominate in that part of the world. There was very little bounce, inconsistent pace off the surface, and that makes stroke making difficult even for established players. Yes, Australia underperformed. There’s no hiding from that. But it would be a mistake to overreact. This is still a team ranked no.2 in the world, and one series in challenging conditions doesn’t erase the work done over the past 12 to 18 months. The question around playing spin is valid, but it’s not new. Opposition teams will look at that series and think “spin to win” against Australia. The danger with that mindset is assuming it’s a one-size-fits-all solution. In a World Cup, pressure changes everything, and Australia have historically handled those moments better than most. The World Cup in Sri Lanka and India will be played on slower wickets, but they’re unlikely to be as inconsistent as those we saw in Pakistan. There should be more true bounce and a little more value for shots if you give yourself a few balls to get the pace of the pitches. Big tournaments also bring a different mental challenge. Pressure, expectation, and occasion often level the playing field, and Australia tend to grow in those environments rather than shrink. That brings us to Steve Smith. His BBL form has reignited debate about whether he deserves a spot in the T20 World Cup squad. Smith’s performances for Sydney Sixers were outstanding. In fact, if we’re being honest, he was the main reason they made the finals. His leadership and presence (not as captain), game awareness, and ability to adapt his T20 game deserve credit. Do Australia need him in this squad? For me, no. Not because Smith isn’t good enough, but because this group has been built without him for a long time. You don’t change direction late in the cycle just because someone has a strong domestic season unless you think the current squad has drastically got worse. World Cup squads are planned well in advance, sometimes years out, and this group has earned its ranking together. Do you bring in one player to be the focal point, or do you trust the unit that’s done the work collectively? That’s the call selectors have to make, and whatever decision they land on won’t please everyone. That brings me to Cummins. Missing the World Cup but attempting to play in the IPL will always spark debate around money versus country. It’s unavoidable in modern cricket. Cummins’ body has taken a lot over the years, and injuries become harder to manage as you get older. Whether this is purely about timing or also a financial decision, only he truly knows. As players, you have the right to make decisions about your career, but that doesn’t mean those decisions won’t be scrutinised. The game has changed. Money has changed. Career paths have changed. For those before this modern group, representing Australia always came first and the IPL fit around that. Now, players balance longevity, finances, and workload differently. It doesn’t bother me what Cummins chooses to do, but it does reflect the modern reality of international cricket. So before we panic about Pakistan, question every selection, or draw hard lines around loyalty, it’s worth taking a breath. This Australian side has what it takes. One tough tour doesn’t define them. The real answers will come when the World Cup pressure hits.