73 Tests 313 Wickets 28.41 Average – 153 ODIs 239 Wickets 25.26 Average. These numbers may not do justice to players like Mitchell Johnson. However, on the off chance that you actually question over his bowling abilities attempt to face one of his over in the nets. If he does whatever it takes not to observe a portion of his videos when Johnson threatens the batsman with crude pace – that is uncommon to find in a batting-friendly Era with the trunk size bats in addition whenever the chance to succeed as a bowler is extremely less. In any case, Mitchell Johnson did it in the most slick way.
Mitchell Johnson will go down as one of the greatest left-arm fast bowler from the last two decades without any doubt. Born in Queensland Mitchell Johnson at first wasn't interested in making his career as a cricketer. He was more into the tennis court as he was the junior tennis player too in his young days. By the age of 17 Mitchell Johnson moved to Brisbane to finally decided to focus on the game of cricket and left this dream of becoming a professional tennis player.
At the age of 17, Mitchell Johnson was first recognized by the former Australian fast bowler of Dennis Lillie in Brisbane. Lillie get in touch with Rod Marsh to include Mitchell Johnson in Australia cricket academy to see more of his potential. Making his way to the side Mitchell Johnson didn't got off the career start a fast bowler dream about a major back injuries from the young age.
Mitchell Johnson was not the Frontline bowler for Australia during Brett Lee and Glenn McGrath Era. In 2006, Mitchell Johnson was selected for the greatest Rivalries in the World Ashes series yet again Johnson didn't found the opportunity in the Series to perform. Before the End of 2007, Mitchell Johnson at last made his Test debut against Sri Lanka at Gabba. From 2007-2013 it was the mix-bag in the Mitchell Johnson career. Barely any great Series with bat and bowl while few were totally out of box.
Mitchell Johnson was adjudged with ICC Cricketer of the year in 2009. Mitchell Johnson is the third left-arm highest wicket-taker in test cricket after Wasim Akhram (414) and Chaminda vass (355). The fourth highest wicket takers in Australia cricket history after Shane Warne (708), Glenn McGrath (563) and Dennis Lillie (355). Mitchell Johnson also hold the record of best bowling figures 8/61 against South Africa is a record still under his name – No one in the history have such figures in a single innings to take 8 wickets.
But someone said it right the result of paitence is often fruitful and that’s what came in the year 2013. 2013-14 Ashes series it was all about Mitchell Johnson. The dread called Mitchell Johnson. 37 Wickets 5 Matches at an Staggering average of 13.97 including Man of Series. A total bad dream for Englishmen during the series a team who looked invincible on the past ashes Series this time around England team was mortified so seriously like no other.
What could be the conceivable explanation for the speedy change in the Australian line-up. The appropriate response was quite evident the left-arm pacer Mitchell Johnson who stood one stride ahead this time and Defined the new name of Fear called Mitchell Johnson. English batsman had the no answer to the class of Mitchell Johnson who has breached the defence of English batting line-up humiliated them like no other.
Australia crushed the England team as well as Australians decimated them in each Department played with England Team crowd minds. A whitewash at long last as well as numerous players were injured so seriously during the Series. Few of them ruled out of the series while few of them took the stunning retirement in between the Series.
In the longest format of game test cricket, it always been the team effort to come out as victorious but hardly it is seen a single player dominating the entire series. But Mitchell Johnson did it single handily during the ashes series 2013-14, terrorize the batsman so badly and took away the series by the tornado. The unreal performance from the Mitchell Johnson in the series will be remembered for decades to come by in the fans minds and that’s how I summed up his exhibition – To be honest.
Johnson was so consistent in the series that he clocked 150 km/h with so ease and looked to get the wicket on every ball. Not just the Ashes series but the next tour of South Africa in 2014 Mitchell Johnson continued the dominance and helped Australia to win series by 2-1 including those insane bouncers to Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla the highlight of the series.
After the South Africa tour, Mitchell Johnson announced the shocking retirement at the age of 33 to just focus on test cricket. A clear warning to test playing nations be aware. The eyes were set on India tour of Australia in 2014. Will Mitchell Johnson turning the heat one more time?
A shocking incident has happened before the series start when Phil Hughes got died due to fiery bouncer struck into his head. The whole cricketing world was stunned that in a modern day cricket with advance techniques and equipment how's it possible?
But the question was same can Mitchell Johnson repeat same performance of Ashes series against team India? Fiery bouncers and consistently clocking the speed of 150 km/h but all were not that dangerous easily pulled off and hooked quite a times in the series. The batsman earlier were scared to face Johnson this time around quite easily hitting. That shocking incident of Phil Hughes transformed the perception of this game. A sort of mutual respect was seen between bowler and batsman. Although Australia won the test series by 2-0 quite easily but Mitchell Johnson was not that Same like before. By the mid of 2018 on 18th August Mitchell Johnson decided to drop the curtains finally after the continuous back problems from the test cricket too and turned into the commenter. But his legacy will be remembered for very long time and is the only bowler from the last one decade who has put fear into the batsman minds like no other.
