On the field Mitch was a scary fast bowler, now he is legend of the game with some amazing stories.
One of the most intimidating and effective bowlers of his time, Mitch Johnson was the spearhead of Australia’s bowling attack for a deacde between 2005 and 2015.
Growing up in Townsville, Queensland, Mitch’s first sporting love was actually tennis, and if it wasn’t for the encouragement Australian cricketing legend Dennis Lillee who spotted his talent at age 17, he may not have taken cricket seriously at all.
Making his ODI debut in 2005, Johnson broke into the Australian Test side in 2007 against Sri Lanka at his home ground, the Gabba, going on to take 4/96 – the start of a great limited-overs career where he was named in the ICC ODI Team of the Year in 2008.
With a strong, flowing run to the crease, Johnson was able to produce late-swing deliveries with a nasty bounce, producing brilliant spells including an eight-wicket first-innings haul against South Africa in the First Test of the 2008/2009 series.
Striking his one and only Test century in Cape Town during the Aussie’s tour of South Africa in 2009, Johnson was later awarded the Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year that year.
Returning to his fearsome best in the 2013/14 Ashes series, Mitch starred with 37 wickets, going on to be named Player of the Series and eventually the Allan Border Medallist of 2014. At the age of 33, he was awarded his second Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy – making him one of only three men (alongside Ponting and Kohli) to have received the honour on multiple occasions.
Mitch called time on his ODI career after helping Australia to victory in the 2015 World Cup final.
Mitch retired from Test cricket in November 2015 finishing his career with 313 Test wickets – The fifth highest for Australia behind Shane Warne (708), Glenn McGrath (563), Dennis Lillee (355) and Nathan Lyon, while going past Brett Lee’s tally of 310 Test wickets in his final Test.
Mitch also finished as the 13th player overall and second Australian, after Shane Warne to take 300+ wickets and score 2000+ runs in Test cricket.
Once finishing his international career, Mitch continued the T20 circuit for a couple of years before fully retiring from the game in 2018.
Mitch is married to Jess and they have a daughter Rubika and a son Leo.
Mitch has since taken up commentary roles with Star Sports in India and Fox Sports in Australia.
In 2016, Mitch released his autobiography ‘Resilient’ about the adversity he has faced in his life and how he overcame challenges.
Mitch and his wife have opened up a cafe in Perth called Mess Kitchen.
Mitch has also set up an online cricket coaching app called bowlfit.
In 2020, Mitch was a contestant on the newly formed SAS Australia where celebrities are put through an SAS entry course.
Mitch was the 2020 World T20 Cup ambassador for Nissan, he has collaborated with Kinn apparel to create a casual easy to wear men’s collection.
Mitch is also a regular ambassador for Movember.
The desire to bowl fast had been with me since school. Once I realised I could do it, it was all I wanted to do.