England and Barmy Army set to face the wrath of reborn Johnson and his need for speed Mitchell Johnson will be ridiculed by the Barmy Army but he'll be looking to target England's batsmen. AUSTRALIAN teammates believe vitriolic barbs from the Barmy Army will motivate Mitchell Johnson as selectors yesterday gave the tearaway a seek-and-destroy mission for the first Test. Vice-skipper Brad Haddin warned England to brace for Johnson fireworks at the Gabba, saying the recently-turned 32-year-old is bowling the fastest spells of his international career. There is added incentive for Johnson, who has not forgotten the soul-destroying taunts from the English group that basked in his infamous meltdown during the 2009 Ashes. At the time, Johnson admitted he wanted to dig a hole and hide. Now, England's batsmen could be ducking for cover from thunderbolts nudging 155km/h. The left-arm quick struck England No.3 Jonathan Trott in the head during the one-day series in September and selection boss John Inverarity has urged Johnson to continue his attack on the Poms. "We're looking for him to do that," he said ahead of the Ashes opener starting Thursday week. If you recall the one-day series in England, he really unsettled two or three of their batters ... so we are looking for that as well. He did well in some Test matches last year in Australia. If you followed the (one-day) series in India, he is in good rhythm and bowled at good pace. We are confident he will acquit himself very well and be a bowler to the fore in our attack. Johnson's Test career was seemingly on life support in March when he was among the Mohali Four who failed to partake in a performance review during the ill-fated tour of India. In the past 12 months, he has played just four Tests, but Australia's latest fast-bowling injury saga has given Johnson a glorious shot at Ashes atonement. The Townsville-born paceman's record against England is uninspiring _ he has 35 wickets at 34.43 _ but Barmy Army brickbats could spark Johnson's Ashes renaissance. "He was in a different frame of mind back then (in 2009) and struggling for a bit of form," pace partner Ryan Harris said. Mitch has realised what he has missed. Things like the flak you cop ... he deals with it better. If it does anything it will anger him more and he will bowl faster. If they (England fans) want to rip into him, good luck. Haddin, who recently kept to Johnson in India, said age has not wearied a man who was once the most feared bowler in world cricket. "He's at the height of his game at the moment ... it is the quickest I've seen from him," he said. I've had a couple of very good spells with Mitchell in South Africa where he has been outstanding but (in India) he had an extra yard of pace. The chants from the Barmy Army are in good humour, we missed them a bit in England, but they do respect good cricket. If Mitch is letting them go the way he can, they will respect that.