SA seek counter to Johnson

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa, Feb 18 (AFP): A pitch with even bounce is expected for the second Test between South Africa and Australia at Port Elizabeth Thursday, which may help South Africa's batsmen combat the threat of Mitchell Johnson.

Left-arm fast bowler Johnson was the destroyer in the first Test in Centurion, with match figures of 12 for 127 as Australia romped to a 281-run win.

Uneven bounce compounded the problems caused by Johnson's pace and hostility on a Centurion pitch which Australian captain Michael Clarke described as "nasty".

Although Johnson will remain the biggest danger to South Africa's hopes of getting back into the three-match series, batsmen should be able to trust the bounce in Port Elizabeth, according to Dave Emslie, chief executive of the local Warriors franchise.