Australia fast bowler Mitchell Johnson wreaked havoc when England last toured Down Under but dwelling on something that happened four years ago is meaningless, former visiting captain Alastair Cook said on Tuesday. Johnson etched his name into Australian sporting folklore by plundering England's order for 37 wickets at an average of 13.97 to be named man-of-the-series in the 2013-14 Ashes, which the hosts won 5-0. The tour saw England batsman Jonathan Trott fly back home mid-series with a stress-related illness, while off-spinner Graeme Swann retired and returned home after the third test. Former captain Kevin Pietersen never played for England again. With the first test starting at the Gabba in Brisbane from Thursday, Australia off-spinner Nathan Lyon's comments that the home side's pace attack could again end careers have spiced up the pre-series war of words.

This file photo taken on November 16, 2017 shows England opener Alastair Cook playing a shot against Cricket Australia XI on the second day of a four-day Ashes tour match at the Tony Ireland Stadium in Townsville. Alastair Cook dismissed talk of Mitchell Johnson as "irrelevant" on November 21 as England prepare to face Australia's new-look pace attack in the first Ashes Test. Pic/AFP