Optical illusion: Mitchells play tricks with the eye

Has Mitchell Johnson been cloned? It seemed like that at Australias practice session.

Has Mitchell Johnson been cloned? It seemed like that at Australias practice session on Friday. It seemed that Simon Katich and Shane Watson faced the same bowler in adjoining nets. But a closer look showed that it was Mitchell Starc,the 20-year-old New South Wales left-arm paceman,with a similar bowling action and run-up to his more famous namesake who was responsible for this optical illusion.

Starc is six centimetres taller than Johnson but it is hard to tell who is who from a distance. Johnsons tattooed arm happens to be the main giveaway. Starc wasnt in the team touring India when the squad was first announced. Johnson,with 36 Tests under his belt,will lead the Australian pace attack in the two-Test series. But there is a possibility that the master and the apprentice will figure in the Playing XI in the game against the Board Presidents XI.

His action is a lot similar to mine. Bit of sling in there but hes bit taller. Hes got raw pace. He bowls in the mid-140s. I think,he is a good prospect for Australia, Johnson said.

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The senior Mitchell has only watched the junior in action on television and hasnt had the opportunity to interact during this India tour so far. Hes getting some bounce and swinging it in as well. Hopefully,he will learn as much from me and Doug (Bollinger) and the other left-armers on the tour, Johnson added.

Strac was clear he wanted to make a name for himself. I am not trying to be Mitchell Johnson. I am trying to be Mitchell Starc. When I made my first class debut people first started to talk about the similarities between me and Johnson, Starc said.

Obviously,Troy Cooley (bowling coach) is the link. Hes worked with both of us and I obviously picked a few similarities. I havent exactly modelled my action on him but we are both left-arm,so theres gonna be some similarities, Starc added.

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