2) As a kid, Mitchell Johnson’s first sporting love was tennis and Johnson was a huge fan of the legendary Pete Sampras. Not only that, Johnson was also agifted and highly sought after junior tennis player. When Johnson was 14, he had been given the chance to relocate to Brisbane in order to work towards a successful career in tennis; however, the offer was rejected. It turned out to be the right decision as 3 years later, Australian bowling great Dennis Lillee spotted his talent and arranged for him to join the Australian Cricket Academy
3) At the age of 17, when Johnson actually started professional cricket, Dennis Lillee recognised his talent and selected him for Australian Cricket Academy in Adelaide. Johnson played for the Australian Under-19 side that toured England in 1999 but was always troubled by injuries
4) Mitchell Johnson made his first-class debut in 2001 for his native state of Queensland. In his debut match, which was played against the touring Kiwis, Johnson smashed a six off the very first ball that he faced. This was an early proof of the fact that despite being a fast bowler, Mitchell Johnson was certainly no mug with the bat in hand and could hit the big ones
5) It was still early days for Mitchell Johnson and in just his seventh ODI, Johnson destroyed the star-studded Indian line up and took 4 wickets taking the scalps of Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh and Irfan Pathan. Johnson generated genuine pace and prodigious swing and announced himself on the international circuit
6) Mitchell Johnson represented Australia at the ICC under-19 World Cup in 2000. His teammates then were Shane Watson, Nathan Hauritz, Michael Clarke, Ed Cowan, Shaun Marsh and Andrew McDonald. Johnson also played for Australia Under-19 in three one-dayers against Sri Lanka in 2001
7) A more than useful tail end batsman, Johnson scored 2,065 runs at an average of 22.20 with one century, an unbeaten 123 against South Africa at Cape Town in 2009.
8) Named International Cricket Council (ICC) Player of the Year, in 2009 and 2014. His former captain Ricky Ponting was the only other player to win it twice
9) Mitchell Johnson is the 398th player to play Test cricket for Australia. Johnson made his Test debut against Sri Lanka in 2007 after Glenn McGrath had retired. McGrath had presented him his Baggy Green on his debut at Brisbane
10) Mitchell Johnson successfully created impact in his maiden test against Sri Lanka in 2007 claiming a total of 4 wickets in the match
11) Mitchell Johnson is married to an Australian model named Jessica Bratich. Apart from modelling, Jessica also knows a thing or two about karate and is a black belt holder in the sport
12) Johnson’s moustache became the talk of the town during the Ashes 2013-14. The “handlebar” moustache added to his persona in the summer of 2013-14 as he blew England away with some breathtaking performances. Johnson had grown the moustache in support of Movember. In the month of November, men grow facial hair. This is done to raise awareness with regards to prostate cancer and other male-related health problems
13) Mitchell Johnson is not known as one of the most fearsome fast bowlers in world cricket for nothing. Johnson has caused lots of physical and mental damage to players over the years with his brutal pace and raw aggression. Former South African skipper Graeme Smith had managed to get his hand broken twice by Johnson, whereas his fellow countryman Jacques Kallis once suffered a broken jaw thanks to the fearsome pacer. Not to forget the manner in which he terrorised England’s Jonathan Trott and forced him out of the Ashes series due to depression and burnout
14) The England cricket team’s legendary fan club Barmy Army are known to get after opposition players and Mitchell Johnson learnt this the hard way. Before being the wrecker-in-chief for Australia during the 2013-14 Ashes series, Johnson’s performances had been quite indifferent in the iconic confrontations.As a result of this, the Barmy Army had made a song which criticised his wayward bowling and they sung it whenever he came in to bowl. However, Johnson did shut them up once and for all with a riveting performance in Australia’s 5-0 whitewash of England in the 2013-14 Ashes
15) Mitchell Johnson played a key role in the semi-final and final matches of ICC World Cup 2015 and added the World Cup winners medal in his bag as Australia lifted the trophy
16) The fourth highest wicket-taker in Test matches for Australia with 313 wickets, behind Shane Warne (708), Glenn McGrath (563) and Dennis Lillee (355), while going past Brett Lee's tally of 310 Test wickets in his final Test
17) The third highest wicket-taker among left-arm fast bowlers in Tests, behind Wasim Akram (414) & Chaminda Vaas (355)
18) Had taken most wickets (37) in the 2013–14 Ashes series at an average of 13.97 – the most by a fast bowler in The Ashes since 1981
19) Has 590 international wickets (313 in Tests, 239 in ODIs & 38 in T20Is) to his name across all formats, in just 256 international matches (320 innings) at an average of 26.65, and is fourth in the list of most international wicket-takers for Australia, behind Shane Warne (1001), Glenn McGrath (949) and Brett Lee (718)
20) Awards and Honors :-
* 2006 ICC Champions Trophy
* 2007 Cricket World Cup
* 2009 ICC Champions Trophy
* 2015 Cricket World Cup
* 2009 ICC Cricketer of the Year
* 2014 Allan Border Medal
* 2014 ICC Test Player of the Year
* 2014 ICC Cricketer of the Year
* McGilvray Medal 2008, 2009
* Johnson was named the 2009 ICC Cricketer of the Year award at the 2009 LG ICC Awards
* Allan Border Medal 2014
* 2014 ICC Cricketer of the Year
* 2014 ICC Test Cricketer of the Year
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