Flower, Pietersen crucial to England's success: Lee

Australian pace legend Brett Lee has reportedly backed England coach Andy Flower and batsman Kevin Pietersen, saying both are crucial for the nation's success.

Lee disagreed with the idea of expelling Pietersen from the team and said that he is an aggressor and a different sort of player.

According to Mirror, Lee further said that he has bowled to Pietersen and knows that he is a serious player. The Aussie paceman also said that getting rid of Flower would be "absolutely crazy" because he can have the same "calming effect" on the England team that Australian coach Darren Lehmann has on his team.

Meanwhile, Australia’s current pace sensation Mitchell Johnson has said that he will continue intimidating England batsmen even in the ODI series.

According to AFP, the speedster was given time off after his heroics in the 5-0 demolition of England and missed Australia's opening ODI win in Melbourne on Sunday.

Now he says he's ready to go again.

"I mentally needed that break," Mitchell said before the second ODI at the Gabba.

"I don't think it will break my momentum at all... I'm looking forward to getting back to one-day cricket.

"You can still use your short-pitch ball and be aggressive" in the 50-over format, said the Queensland-born left-armer.

"I really enjoy bowling with the white ball. I think it swings a lot more and I think you can still be as intimidating with the white ball.

"It definitely makes a difference being a bowler that can bowl at the 150 mark... it definitely helps with the intimidation factor."

Image: Kevin Pietersen of England speaks with coach Andy Flower 

Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images