Thaindian News

Melbourne, July 23 (IANS) Australian pacer Mitchell Johnson’s mother Vikki Harber Thursday slammed the critics who held her responsible for her son’s lacklustre performance in the ongoing Ashes Test series.
Harber has come under fire from all over the country this month after she claimed Johnson had been “stolen” from her by his karate champ fiancee Jessica Bratich.

Among her detractors are former Australian cricketers Shane Warne and Kim Hughes, who feel Johnson’s England tour is being torn apart by his public split with Harber.

While Harber denies ever suggesting her son had been taken from her by Bratich, she confirmed there was no doubting any relationship between the trio had soured three years ago when she tried to commit suicide.

“But to suggest I’m responsible for Australia losing the Ashes series, that’s just ridiculous,” Harber, who hasn’t spoken to her son since January, was quoted as saying in Courier Mail.

“I mean, yes, Mitchell is a fairly sensitive individual and it’s hard to say what impact this has had on him. But they are all things that can be worked through when he comes home.

“I’m so proud of him. Everyone in the family is. Because to see him struggling over there, it really upsets me.

“But to say I’m somehow responsible for his form, I can’t believe that. I’m his mum and I’ll never stop caring about him. There is no point me texting him because I can’t say how I feel.

“I just want to see him do well over there because I’m his mum and I love him.”