Shane Watson breaks into tears after hearing about Mitchell Johnson's retirement

Johnson and Watson during 2013-14 Ashes

Australian player, Shane Watson was almost reduced to tears when he heard the news about Mitchell Johnson's retirement, reports cricket.com.au. He was shocked after he received the text message from Johnson which read that he was retiring from all forms of cricket immediately.

Watson and Johnson have been close friends for so many years. They both met at the Under-19 Queensland Camp and since then, have played a lot of cricket together. Both represented 43 times together in Tests for Australia.

The all-rounder had an idea of Johnson’s retirement, but he had never thought that the fast bowler will bid adieu to all forms of cricket. Watson was thinking that Johnson will give up one format to prolong his career in the other format just like the way he did earlier this year during the Ashes.

"I had a bit of an idea that he was potentially thinking about it (retirement) and contemplating it but not to this extent to retire from all forms," Watson said. "I was really shocked this morning when I got a message from Mitch to say that he was retiring from all forms.

After announcing his retirement from the Test arena, Watson kept his Twenty20 and ODI cricket options open and he thought Johnson might take the same decision.

"When I knew I was retiring from Test cricket I always thinking ‘I've still got some games with my good mate’. I've still got a few games hopefully for Australia in one-day and T20 cricket still for a little while longer.

"So the thought of that not happening is quite an emotional time. I've been playing cricket with Mitch since I was 17, and we've been very good friends over that time.

"To know that one of my good friends is moving on in one part of his life just hits home how all good things must end at some stage,” the all-rounder said.

Johnson did a great job for Australia, he was always incredibly gifted and skilful, especially he was at his absolute peak in the 2013-14 Ashes series. He made England hop and jump in that Ashes in his own backyard by picking 37 wickets in the five matches and dominating the proceedings almost single-handedly.

It was Watson, who used to field in the first slip position most of the times, he recollects how it was to be there when Johnson used to come and bowl at the opposition batsmen.

"To be in first slip and to know you had that weapon in your attack was just incredible. It's so intimidating,” he said. “To have that intimidation was along the lines of when Brett Lee was his absolute best and bowling super-fast.

"It's a different ball game (facing extreme fast bowling), to be in the field, in pole position at first slip and to Mitch as well … oh my goodness."

Watto said the even the bravest of all batsmen used to get intimidated by Johnson's hostile bowling, and he can't blame them. His pace used to cause a stir in the batsman’s mind.

"Even someone who never showed any fear was Kevin Pietersen, and in that Ashes you could see he was on edge, and admitted he was on edge, and why wouldn't he be?" Watson said. Mitch was bowling super-fast, accurate, aggressively, and sustained it throughout the whole day.

"Even the guy who were fearless, it was hard not to have any fear there. He was so hostile every time he bowled. It didn't have to be on a fast bouncy wicket either.”

The left-arm fast bowler announced his retirement mid-way through the Test series against New Zealand. With 313 wickets in 73 Test matches, Johnson signed off as one of the highest wicket-takers for the Australian team in Tests.