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Dennis Lillee has hailed the “coming of age” of Mitchell Johnson after the Australian pace bowler took a sensational 5-2 in 21 balls on day two of the first Test against South Africa at the WACA.
Lillee, the WACA president and a former world record-holder with 355 Test wickets, heaped praised on his charge.
Lillee discovered Johnson as a 17-year-old talent in Townsville, labelling him a “once-in-generation bowler”.
“It is very pleasing to see the coming of age of any fast bowler and Mitchell on his new home ground has stepped up to the role today to show he has definitely come of age as a Test bowler,” Lillee said.
Johnson’s career-best haul of 7-42 was reminiscent of Lillee’s 8-29, including a spell of 6-0, against the Rest of the World in December 1971 in an unofficial Test match which followed the cancellation of South Africa’s proposed tour of Australia.
Johnson, 27, said he was in a state of shock.
In reply to Australia’s first innings of 375, South Africa had been cruising at 3-234 late in the day’s play but lost 5-7 to reach stumps at 8-243.
Left-armer Johnson landed five hammer blows in 33 minutes.
AB De Villiers (63), Jacques Kallis (63) and debutant JP Duminy (1) were all caught behind and Morne Morkel (1) and spinner Paul Harris (0) were both caught by Jason Krejza.
“I’m in a bit of shock,” said Johnson, playing in his 16th Test and first on his new home ground.
“I was quite nervous this morning and I got the new ball again and I probably rushed it a little bit this morning and thought about it a bit too much.
“As the day went on, I just relaxed and let the ball do all the talking.
“The reception was pretty great, just to hear the crowd as you walk back to fine leg.
“It’s pretty crazy. I was copping a bit of flak earlier. They were still calling me a Queenslander,” added Johnson, who switched states to WA before this summer to be with Perth-based girlfriend Jessica Bratich.
He has yet to play a first-class game for the Warriors, but the crowd of 10,515 soon welcomed their new hero.
“I just let that (flak) run off my back. I started getting a few wickets and the crowd were right into it,” Johnson said.
“It’s a crazy feeling when the crowd is standing up and applauding you.
“It’s obviously an amazing feeling to get seven wickets.”
Johnson said Lillee had mentored him before the first Test.
“He said at the WACA you probably want to be a little bit straighter, try to get the guys to play a lot more,” Johnson said.
Johnson had dismissed opener Neil McKenzie for two before lunch.
Captain Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla shared a 90-run stand for the second wicket.
Off-spinner Krejza removed right-hander Amla bowled between bat and pad at 2-106.
Smith fell four runs later for 48 when he dragged a full-length ball from Johnson onto leg stump.
South Africa were going well at 3-234 but at 6.16pm (8.16 AEDT), Johnson’s attempt to use the breeze from the Lillee-Marsh End to his advantage paid massive dividends.
“I was pretty pumped up out there. I tried to not let the emotions get to me too much and keep to my plan and get one to go across the right-handers,” he said.
Kallis said Johnson had produced a “world-class spell”.
“Hopefully we can have a couple of those throughout the series as well. But no, we certainly don’t see the game as down and out,” he said.
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