Johnson declines offer to play against England

Cape Town - Former Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has declined an invitation to play in a warm-up match against England on their Ashes tour, according to the West Australian publication.

The tourists play a Western Australia XI in a two-day warm-up match at the WACA starting on Saturday and Johnson was approached to play and use the game as a preparation for the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) season. 

The now 36-year-old left-arm paceman retired from international cricket in 2015 but still plays in T20 leagues around the world. 

Johnson took 37 wickets to lead the Aussies to a five-nil whitewash in the 2013/2014 Ashes with the series known for some of the most brutal fast bowling and sledging in the history of the game.

Australia captain Steve Smith has called on the hosts to reopen some of the old scars of the English and the hosts are set to field another trio of pace bowlers. 

Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewwood and Pat Cummins are all likely to play in the first Ashes Test in Brisbane from 23 November.