Mitchell Johnson retires as one of Australia’s greatest tearaways

Like most talented cricketers, for Johnson it was not always about the battles that he fought with external forces along the way.

The legacy that Mitchell Johnson leaves is simple to comprehend: with a big heart, the right attitude and enough skill, bowlers can revel despite all the odds stacked against them. From being the 12th man who carried drinks in all the five Ashes Tests in 2006-07 when Australia registered the second clean sweep (in a five-match Ashes series), to the one who scripted the third whitewash of England, Johnson walks away as one of the finest fast bowlers in Australian cricket history. He sits at No. 4 spot in Australia’s list of all-time wicket-takers across formats, having surpassed Brett Lee only in his final appearance — the second Test against New Zealand at Perth. ALSO READ: Mitchell Johnson to retire from international cricket after Australia vs New Zealand 2nd Test at Perth

Like most talented cricketers, for Johnson it was not always about the battles that he fought with external forces along the way. From the lows of the Ashes 2009 to the pinnacle that he achieved in Ashes 2013-14, Johnson’s true victories were the battles won within. Even though he remained ordinary on the English wickets that favoured seam and swing bowling, the brutish Johnson did not spare his opponents whenever he got wickets that suited his hit-the-deck bowling.

Australia’s decline began in 2009, and Johnson was among the many that were caught in the firing line. When England won the Ashes in Australia after 24 years in 2010-11, they were helped immensely by The Barmy Army. A frail Johnson was tamed and reduced to rabble by the ‘He bowls to the left, he bowls to the right’ chants. However, the left-armer showed tremendous character to make an incredible comeback from worst of times. There were occasional sparks of brilliance — eight wickets at WACA in Ashes 2010-11 showed Johnson could still win matches — but there was a lot left to be desired. It was a challenge that only Johnson could conquer; not only by his cricketing skills but by showing his mental strength.

Circa 2012; Johnson was in a state of mind in which the idea of playing cricket no longer excited him. Johnson was a broken figure back then. The rigours of international cricket and a lack of form and fitness had taken their toll. It was not easy to force his way back into the side, especially when others such as Peter Siddle began taking charge of the role of ‘pace spearhead. In a last ditch attempt at a revival, he went under the wing of Dennis Lillee, and emerged a different bowler thereafter.

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While it cannot be denied that Johnson was not at his best in the Ashes 2015 in England, the way he tackled the inebriated English fans throughout the five Tests was exemplary. And then, at Lord’s, his put the claims to shame that he cannot excel on flat decks.

Johnson’s strengths were not confined only to bowling at sheer pace and dominating the best of batsmen on bouncy pitches, although there have been very few bowlers who rattled opponents in the same way he did to England in Ashes 2013-14. Johnson meant pain and anguish for England, and the after-effects of the trauma can still be seen.

Be it his ferocious spell of 8 for 61 at his adopted home ground at the WACA in Perth or the all-round show at Cape Town (103 and 4 for 148), Johnson enjoyed playing against South Africa. Perhaps his last great performance in Test cricket came on the tour to South Africa in 2014, when Australia tamed the South Africans in their backyard. Johnson ended the three-Test series with 22 wickets; ten more than the ferocious Dale Steyn.

Perhaps the end of Johnson began with all that transpired in late 2014 in Australia. The death of teammate Phillip Hughes rattled many cricketers, but it had a profound and lasting effect on Johnson. The marauder in Johnson — who would not care about a batsman’s misery after troubling him with  a snorter — snuffed out after Hughes’ passing. That delivery that hit Virat Kohli on the helmet in the first Test at Adelaide Oval had a reverse effect. The famous ‘mo’ was there on the face, but the look on the bowler’s face was completely opposite.

The timing of Johnson’s retirement is absolutely perfect. While it would be termed as another loss to Australian cricket — he joins five other Australians in retiring in the year 2015 — he has given Australia enough time to rebuild for the Ashes 2017-18 before they head to England for Ashes 2019, and then the ICC Cricket 2019 World Cup title defense.

Johnson would be 38 by the time the next World Cup tournament arrives, and 36 before the Ashes 2017-18 begins. Bowlers who rely on sheer pace usually do not last long, and even if they do, they are well past their prime. Johnson is spot on in announcing his retirement this summer, but the fact will remain that Australian cricket will be poor without his searing pace and reputation.

(Devarchit Varma is senior writer with CricketCountry. He can be followed on Twitter @Devarchit)