After a dominant display on Australian shores last season, Mitchell Johnson had the cricketing world at his feet. Endless awards, a big rise in the Cricket Australia pay stakes, and a run of KFC ads were his for the taking.
Unfortunately, like most things Mitchell Johnson-related, it wasn’t that simple.
This summer Johnson turned out a series of surprisingly feeble returns against an Indian side renowned for mediocre away Test performances.
Overall, there was only one devastating spell from Mitch in his latest Test appearances, and none of the match-winning, destructive terror on display from the moustachioed madman.
It has since emerged that Johnson has been dealing with personal issues, which saw him miss the final Test against India and all games in the subsequent ODI tri-series.
Perhaps this was a contributing factor to Johnson’s drop in consistent pace and effectiveness in his final three Tests for 2014, but the signs are worrying nonetheless.
Peter Siddle, several years younger than Mitch, was once again sent to the sidelines this summer for a lack of pace and penetration at international level.
The selectors clearly have a pace prototype in mind. Unless Johnson can conjure a strong return to form against the West Indies in May, there is a chance he won’t make it through the following Ashes series this winter.
Such a thought was unimaginable this time last year. Then, Johnson was boosting the careers of many English sports psychologists after wreaking utter havoc in an unexpected 5-0 whitewash. While no f***ing arms were broken, many nightmares were suffered by the Old Enemy, and Mitch seemed set to dominate for years to follow.
While the great Dennis Lillee predicted a tremendous international career for Johnson from a young age, it has instead been a journey with more ups and downs than an Eastern European currency.
When Mitch and his mo are firing, they are a deadly combination, striking fear in the hearts of batsmen across the globe. Unfortunately, if the radar is off or the mo doesn’t meet handlebar regulations, Johnson’s effectiveness often falls away dramatically.
Hopefully the fire and sheer terror that surrounded Mitchell Johnson throughout the 2013-14 season will return in coming months, and he will be able to finish his career strongly, and on his own terms.
With a number of young, hungry fast bowlers nipping at their heels, Mitch and his fellow senior pacemen will need to maintain strong form in the coming years to keep the wolves at bay. Let’s hope the mojo returns shortly, and Johnson finishes his career with a roar, not a whimper.
sonya
Guest
Come on guys give mitchy a break, if you look at the figures of the test series you will see he is the best fast bowler.....he can't get all the wickets all of the time, about time some other bowlers got some wickets.However, I am suprised he had a month off and wonder what the personal reasons were. Stop with your tall poppies syndrome and support a great athlete....he is back to his best tonight at the final tri series.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Is James Bird the love child of James Hird and Jackson Bird, Ronan? ;)
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
"I think you’ll find Bird is consistently quicker than Hazlewood. And Behrendorff." James Bird certainly is not quicker than Hazlewood or Behrendorff. He is, however, a tad unfairly painted as a bit of a medium pacer when he actually bowls mostly in the 135-140kmh range which is where most Test quicks are grouped together. Hazlewood has a higher top end - capable of pushing it up to 147-148kmh - compared to Bird's max of about 140-141kmh. But Hazlewood still needs to build greater fitness to maintain his speeds and his average speed of 135kmh in his last Test was the same as Bird's average in his last Test at Chester Le Street 18 months ago. Bird has a brilliant aerobic capacity and can bowl long spells without his pace dropping out of that 135-140kmh range which is something Hazlewood still needs to develop.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
"Harris consistently took more wickets than Johnson all summer, despite his knee challenges." Actually both players played 3 Tests against India, with Johnson taking 13 wickets to Harris' 10.
Don Freo
Guest
Let's not get all New Idea. A personal REASON may be quite a bit different to a personal ISSUE.
Don Freo
Guest
A performance or two to support that claim would help. Bird was good in his last test but that was almost 2 seasons ago. He has to do something on his comeback. His team mates, Hilfenhaus, Fekete and Rainbird have all done better.
Don Freo
Guest
Harris will be gone before Mitch. In fact, he may well have finished.
Don Freo
Guest
Only if historians all lose their memories. Trent Boult!
Dizzy Tangles
Guest
Johnson needs to bowl short spells. This is what works for him. That is what the value of guys like Watson and Mitch Marsh is - these extra bowlers give our captain the ability to keep our bowlers fresh - sure , this plan goes out the window if nobody takes wickets as we saw in the UAE but having those extra options really helps. I think Clarke manages MJ really well and hope Smith does the same.
ozinsa
Guest
Daniel, you got the match winning performance you expected in Brisbane. On another road (bloody disgrace) he ripped the heart out of the Indian middle order in the second innings after a run a ball 88 in ouur first. All that was left was for us to chase down 130 and he was not out at the end of that too. Given we set our quicks up to fail all summer I'll take that output from a bloke who, it turns out, may have been dealing with off-pitch distractions.
Gav
Guest
Johnson bowled at 140k this summer (av by my estimation) Last summer he bowled 145k (av by my estimation) Big diff when accuracy and movement are not his forte. It won't take long before the younger brigade take over, at 140k Johnson really comes back to the pack. 145-150k he is a different proposition....he really needs to have that extra yard. His a fit guy, but really I don't see him being around in 18months
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Agreed, Paul. I think Behrendorff is a better Test option than Starc right now. I also think Cummins needs at least a season of solid Shield performances under his belt before being considered for a Test berth, but the selectors may disagree.
Winston
Guest
That I agree with. Given popularity of 20-20 I think all players should seriously consider retiring from international cricket early and doing that full time. What I was saying was more I don't think the SELECTORS should drop him. And I reckon even if his pace falls and his wicket tally falls, if he can still bowl consistently like he has been, and occasionally swings it, they still wouldn't drop him for a while yet.
jameswm
Guest
I think you'll find Bird is consistently quicker than Hazlewood. And Behrendorff. It's not like Bird is 130kmh and he is the complement to the two quicker guys.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Absolutely. Terry Alderman and Glenn McGrath in his later years were certainly not express pace, but still took bags of wickets.
Paul Giles
Guest
Our first choice bowling line-up for the Ashes will be Johnson, Harris, Hazelwood and Lyon. Cummins just hasn't played enough cricket in the last 3 years, it would be a massive risk playing him at the moment. Starc is only useful with the very new ball or the very old ball, he needs to be more consistent to be a test match bowler, I think Behrendorff deserves to be in contention for the Ashes tests before him. A fit Pattison is probably in our test team but his injury problems are almost as bad as Cummins.
13th Man
Guest
Like it or not, it seems Bird is another one of those who have fallen victim to the 140 kph plus rule. I think he is a great bowler for English Conditions, but the advantage Pattinson, Starc, Hazelwood and Behrendorff have over him is pace.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
I agree entirely, James. Huge fan of Bird.
Daniel Gray
Roar Guru
Here's that article I was referring to regarding Johnson's personal issues - http://www.espncricinfo.com/carlton-mid-triangular-series-2015/content/story/823515.html
jameswm
Guest
Daniel I also think Bird is the perfect complement to Johnson and Harris, as well as being our 3rd best quick.