Fear is a funny thing in professional sports. Usually, it's subtle. A batter might take a half-step back or grip the handle a little tighter. But during the 2013-14 Ashes, the fear surrounding Mitchell Johnson Australian cricketer was visceral. You could see it in the eyes of the English top order. It wasn't just about losing a wicket anymore. It was about survival.
Johnson wasn't just a bowler that summer; he was a force of nature. He finished that series with 37 wickets at an average of 13.97. Honestly, those numbers are ridiculous. If you look at the history of the game, few individuals have ever exerted that much psychological pressure over an entire squad. People talk about the "mousetrap" or tactical shifts, but with Johnson, it was simpler. It was raw, left-arm thunderbolts delivered at 150 km/h aimed right at the throat.
The Dennis Lillee Project
Before he was the most feared man in world cricket, Mitchell Johnson was just a kid from Townsville with a massive engine and a somewhat fragile psyche. Dennis Lillee, the legendary Aussie quick, saw him at age 17 and called him a "once-in-a-generation" prospect. High praise. Huge pressure.
🔗 Read more: What Time Is The U of M Game Today: MLK Day Tip-Off and TV Schedule
Lillee basically mentored him from day one. He saw the "slingy" action—that low arm path that makes the ball skid and jump awkwardly off the pitch—and knew it was a weapon. But for years, Johnson was a bit of a Jekyll and Hyde character. One day he’d be the ICC Cricketer of the Year (which he won in 2009), and the next, he’d be struggling to hit the pitch.
The Barmy Army used to sing about him. You know the one: "He bowls to the left, he bowls to the right..."
It got to him. He’s admitted as much since retiring. He struggled with his confidence. He’d spend nights in his hotel room dwelling on a bad spell. It's easy to forget that these guys are human when they're charging in like gladiators, but Johnson was always fighting a quiet war with himself.
The 2013 Comeback That Changed Everything
By early 2013, most people thought Johnson was done. He’d been dropped. He had a toe injury. He was "yesterday’s man."
Then came the "moustachioed" version of Mitch.
Returning for the return Ashes in Australia, he looked different. He felt different. He was no longer trying to be a "line and length" bowler. Darren Lehmann, the coach at the time, basically gave him a license to kill. The plan was: bowl fast, bowl short, and don't worry about the runs.
The results were carnage:
- Brisbane (1st Test): 9 wickets. England was rattled.
- Adelaide (2nd Test): 7/40 in a single innings. He literally broke the game open in one afternoon session.
- Perth (3rd Test): More of the same. The series was over before it really began.
He wasn't just taking wickets; he was forcing players into retirement. Jonathan Trott left the tour early. Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis—two of the toughest players to ever pick up a bat—were sent to the hospital "retired hurt" during his spells in South Africa shortly after.
The Mechanics of a 150km/h Left-Armer
Why was he so hard to play? Most fast bowlers have a high release point. You see the ball coming from way up. Johnson’s release was lower, more "side-on."
This meant the ball stayed lower but zipped off the surface. If he bowled a bouncer, it didn't just loop up; it followed you. Because he was a left-armer, the ball was constantly angling across the right-hander or crashing into their ribs. You couldn't get away from it.
✨ Don't miss: The ArkanSanity Podcast: Why Bryce Mitchell’s Comments Are Still Making Waves
He was also a genuine all-rounder. People forget he has a Test century. He smashed 123* against a prime South African attack in 2009. He was a clean hitter. Basically, a guy who could ruin your day with the ball and then humiliate you with the bat while batting at number 8.
Life After the Fast Lane
Johnson retired in 2015. He finished with 313 Test wickets. That puts him in the elite tier of Australian greats—only Warne, McGrath, Lyon, Lillee, and a couple of others have more.
But the transition wasn't easy.
Since hanging up the boots, Johnson has been incredibly open about his battle with depression. He talked about it on the show SAS Australia. He mentioned how the routine of cricket "hid" the depression for years. When the cheering stops and the routine disappears, the mind starts playing tricks.
It’s a side of Mitchell Johnson Australian cricketer that makes his on-field aggression even more impressive. He was battling internal demons while simultaneously being the most intimidating presence on a cricket field.
Nowadays, he’s a regular in the commentary box. He doesn't hold back. He’s been critical of the modern Australian team at times, which has rubbed some people the wrong way, but that's just Mitch. He’s honest. He’s raw. He doesn't do "corporate speak."
Lessons from the Mitch Johnson Era
If you’re a young bowler or a fan trying to understand his legacy, there are a few things to take away from his career.
- Embrace your uniqueness. Johnson’s action was "wrong" by many coaching standards, but it made him unplayable. If he’d tried to bowl like Glenn McGrath, he would have been mediocre.
- Resilience is a muscle. He went from being a laughingstock in England in 2009 to a national hero in 2013. You’re never as bad as your worst day.
- Mental health matters. Even the toughest guys on the planet struggle. Talking about it doesn't make you weak; it makes you human.
Next time you watch a left-arm pacer steaming in, look at their arm path. If they’re releasing the ball a bit lower and the batter looks like they want to be anywhere else but the crease, you’re seeing the ghost of Mitchell Johnson. He redefined what "intimidation" meant in the modern era.
Your Next Steps to Learn More
To really appreciate what Johnson did, you should find the highlights of the 2013 Adelaide Test. Watch the second innings specifically. Pay attention to the footwork of the English batters—or lack thereof. If you're looking for more technical depth, search for "Mitchell Johnson bowling analysis" on YouTube to see how his "slingy" action created those awkward angles. Also, check out his interviews on mental health if you want to understand the person behind the bouncers. It's a heavy subject but a necessary one for anyone following the sport today.