Leading Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson's estranged mother has hit back at claims the cricketer has made peace with her, and said she should not be blamed for the Ashes loss.
The Western Australia bowler's mother has been blamed for his poor performance at the Ashes, following stories in the media quoting her accusing Johnson of disappearing from her life since meeting and falling for glamorous fiancee Jessica Bratich just prior to the Ashes mid-year.
Vikki Harber said she has not spoken to her son since January, although she would love to reconcile with him, The Age reports.
Harber said she had not mended any bridges with Bratich, and she wants to resume a relationship with her son and hopes they can reconnect during the first Test currently under way in Brisbane, where she lives.
She sent Western Australia Today an email in response to an opinion piece about her impact on the performance of her sporting son during the Ashes loss.
She denied she had ever said Bratich stole her son as tabloid magazines and other media have reported, and said blaming her for Australia losing the Ashes was a "cop-out".
Harber said Johnson's performance on the field could not be linked to her opinions about his behaviour since he began seeing Bratich.
"As for the media blaming me for the Ashes loss, I think it's a cop out and completely unfair. Mitchell has known for three years how we feel about his girlfriend and didn't come as a surprise to him."
Harber said it was not only herself who had lost contact with Johnson. Other family members were having the same problems, she added.
