MITCHELL JOHNSON was so wound up he almost PUNCHED Kevin Pietersen during the 2009 Ashes.
In his newly-published autobiography Resilient, the angry Aussie fast bowler admitted the “red mist descended” and he almost decked the former England batsman.
Though he does not say which Test it was, Mitchell, 34, took exception to KP hitting a few balls over to where the Aussie quicks were warming up in the nets.
Mitchell said: “Kevin Pietersen is a guy who likes to stir things up and I can appreciate that.
“He knows how to get under people’s skin and when we were bowling in the morning he played a few pull shots in our direction.
“I threw a ball back to where he was and I suggested he stop it. Of course, he didn’t.
“When he hit another one towards me I kicked it as far as I could in the other direction.
“Words were exchanged and KP crossed the line in what he said. He got really personal and I’m not going to dignify his comments by repeating them.
“The red mist descended and I stormed in his direction with every intention of hitting him.
“This was all being played out in full view of spectators who had arrived early and the media.
“Our bowler Stuart Clark saw it and came rushing over just as we came together and jumped between us.
“KP is a big guy but I was very worked up. Fortunately, Stu is bigger than both of us because it took a bit to convince me not to go through with what I planned. I am so glad Stu was there.”
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The feud continued for years, most notably in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne in 2013 when they traded barbs on the wicket.
Mitchell, who retired from international cricket a year ago, said: “I can tell you that this wouldn’t have been a minor scuffle.
“I have rarely had a fight in my life but when I have had a chance to pull the gloves on I’ve loved it.
“If KP and I had gone toe to toe, life might have taken another strange twist.
There are limits to what you can say. I am sure everyone knows the line.
“You cannot bring family or stuff like that in it — and I’m sure he knew he had gone too far. But he did it on purpose because he wanted to get me going.”
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