'Sledging will push Ashes series to boiling point'

Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson has predicted that tensions between the his team and the visiting England team will reach boiling point during next month's Ashes series.

Johnson believes that both sides would unleash a series of verbal taunts in a bid to gain an edge in the series. 

"It will be pushed to the boiling point. It's an Ashes series and there's a lot of guys in that side that don't mind speaking, but I guess there's a few in our side as well," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Johnson, as saying.

"It's definitely going to be a fiery series. It's just (important) keeping your emotions in check and knowing how far you can go. We want to do the best we can with our skills ... we want to beat them with our skills and win the series," he added.

The 28-year-old further said that he is ready to lead Australia's attack after sorting out issues related to his disappointing 2009 Ashes performance.

"Over there I definitely built it up ... it was a huge deal for me, like any young guy coming through. I think I've learnt that lesson now, I've experienced that and now I've adjusted to the pressures of I guess being a leader of the attack as well," Johnson said.

"I'm looking forward to this series, it's something I'm very excited about," he added.