Deflection or delusion? That was the question after the tri-series final on Sunday night after Eoin Morgan declared that England were "absolutely not" threatened by Mitchell Johnson, bizarrely insisting that any bowler could have done the same damage to the tourists.
In his first outing since the Boxing Day Test, Johnson picked up exactly where he left off last summer, when he flattened and frightened the old enemy as Australia reclaimed the Ashes 5-0.
He wound up with 3-27 from his seven overs at the WACA on Sunday, but that did not tell the full story. His three scalps shattered the England top order, reducing them to 4-46 with a devastating first-change spell of pace and menace that wound the clock back a year.
His victims - James Taylor, Moeen Ali and Morgan - were not part of that forgettable Ashes campaign for England and the tourists' new one-day captain claimed they remained far from concerned about Johnson.
"Certainly he didn't take the front in our (pre-match) meeting," Morgan said. "I don't think we were threatened that much today. I think we were poor."
Morgan denied that Johnson had reopened old wounds ahead of the teams' meeting on the first day of the World Cup, at the MCG on February 14.
"Absolutely not. I don't think he swung it," said Morgan, who had the top of his off stump removed by Johnson first ball on Sunday. "We put ourselves under pressure. I don't know why we performed like this today.
"I think it probably could have been anybody bowling. We had a really bad day. We lost in Hobart, he didn't play."
Morgan's reaction raised eyebrows in the Australian camp.
"Sorry, say that again," man of the match Glenn Maxwell said when asked about his comments.
Asked again Maxwell said: "Yeah, but Mitchell did it. He had 3-11 at one stage and tore through their top order. They can be not worried at all but if they're getting skittled by him then they probably should be. What sort of statement is that?"
Australia have beaten England three times in 16 days but Morgan believes his team can beat their hosts come February 14.
"I think the pressure builds on Australia from that perspective. They're the home side, first game of the World Cup, playing against a dangerous side. We're going out with all guns blazing. There is no pressure from our point of view."
